Number of Low-Income and Poor Children
- In South Carolina, there are 515,949 families, with 951,884 children.
- 40% (377,043) of children in South Carolina live in low-income families. A low-income family has an annual income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (currently $37,700 per year for a family of four).
- 19% (180,835) of children in South Carolina live in poor families. A poor family has an annual income below the federal poverty level, (currently $18,850 per year for a family of four).
Children in Families in South Carolina by Income Level
| Poor | Low-Income | Above Low-Income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| South Carolina | 180,835 | 19% | 377,043 | 40% | 574,841 | 60% |
| United States | 11,859,498 | 17% | 26,814,830 | 38% | 43,270,708 | 62% |
- In South Carolina, young children are more likely to live in low-income families.
- 45% (128,377) of children under age 6 live in low-income families.
- 37% (248,666) of children age 6 or older live in low-income families.
Children in South Carolina by Age by Income Level
| Children Less Than 6 Years Old | Children 6 Years or Older | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Income Children | Above Low-Income Children | Low-Income Children | Above Low-Income Children | |||||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| South Carolina | 128,377 | 45% | 155,636 | 55% | 248,666 | 37% | 419,205 | 63% |
| United States | 9,642,384 | 42% | 13,390,000 | 58% | 17,170,000 | 36% | 29,880,000 | 64% |
Source: National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP)
State data were calculated from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (the March supplement) of the Current Population Survey from 2002, 2003, and 2004, representing information from calendar years 2001, 2002, and 2003. NCCP averaged three years of data because of small sample sizes in less populated states. The national data were calculated from the 2004 data, representing information from calendar year 2003.