Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in South Carolina
The ratio of income to poverty level can be used not just to categorize people as above or below the poverty line, but also to measure the degree or depth of poverty. The ratio of income to poverty compares a person's income with their poverty threshold, and expresses that comparison as a fraction. For example, a poverty ratio of 1.0 (income at 100% of poverty level) means a person is living right at the poverty line; a ratio of 0.5 (income at 50% of poverty level) would mean that the person is living in a household making only half of the income designated as the poverty threshold.
The Census Bureau describes those with family incomes below one half of their poverty threshold as being "severely poor." People with incomes at or above their threshold but below 125 percent of their threshold are classified as "near poor."
View the poverty thresholds used by the Census Bureau in 1999.
In South Carolina in 1999, 6.5 percent of the population for whom poverty status is determined was severly poor, with incomes below one half of their poverty threshold (a ratio below 0.5).
While 14.1 percent of the population in South Carolina was below poverty in 1999, and additional 4.6 percent were classified as near poor, with incomes at or above their poverty threshold, but below 125 percent of their threshold (a ratio of 1.00 to 1.24).
Ratio of Income in 1999 to Poverty Level
| South Carolina | United States | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | |
| Population for Whom Poverty Status is Determined | 3,883,329 | 100.0 | 273,882,232 | 100.0 |
| Ratio of Income to Poverty Level Under .50 | 251,689 | 6.5 | 15,337,408 | 5.6 |
| .50 to .74 | 136,028 | 3.5 | 8,510,306 | 3.1 |
| .75 to .99 | 160,152 | 4.1 | 10,052,098 | 3.7 |
| 1.00 to 1.24 | 179,135 | 4.6 | 11,287,823 | 4.1 |
| 1.25 to 1.49 | 195,830 | 5.0 | 12,132,514 | 4.4 |
| 1.50 to 1.74 | 189,128 | 4.9 | 11,872,262 | 4.3 |
| 1.75 to 1.84 | 79,534 | 2.0 | 5,104,996 | 1.9 |
| 1.85 to 1.99 | 110,032 | 2.8 | 6,897,202 | 2.5 |
| 2.00 and Over | 2,581,801 | 66.5 | 192,687,623 | 70.4 |
Summary of Poverty Thresholds: 1999
| South Carolina | United States | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | |
| Population for Whom Poverty Status is Determined | 3,883,329 | 100.0 | 273,882,232 | 100.0 |
| Under 50% of Poverty | 251,689 | 6.5 | 15,337,408 | 5.6 |
| Under 75% of Poverty | 387,717 | 10.0 | 23,847,714 | 8.7 |
| Under 100% of Poverty | 547,869 | 14.1 | 33,899,812 | 12.4 |
| Under 125% of Poverty | 727,004 | 18.7 | 45,187,635 | 16.5 |
| Under 150% of Poverty | 922,834 | 23.8 | 57,320,149 | 20.9 |
| Under 175% of Poverty | 1,111,962 | 28.6 | 69,192,411 | 25.3 |
| Under 185% of Poverty | 1,191,496 | 30.7 | 74,297,407 | 27.1 |
| Under 200% of Poverty | 1,301,528 | 33.5 | 81,194,609 | 29.6 |
| 200% of Poverty or Above | 2,581,801 | 66.5 | 192,687,623 | 70.4 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000. SF3, Table P88.