Top 10 states in USA with highest poverty rates

Often referred to as the most powerful nation of the world, United States of America was founded on July 4, 1776. United States. The name “America” goes back in history to the time when German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller created a world map in 1507. The cartographer, after the name of an Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who discovered the entire continent, named the land ‘America’. The USA contributes a huge part of land of North America. It, also, entirely lies in the Northern hemisphere. The United States of America is divided into 50 federal states, ranging from Alaska, which covers around 650 sq. miles of area to Rhode Island which covers only 1500 sq. miles of area.

With a long history of freedom and a massive abundance of natural resources United States is regarded as the most powerful nation of the world. Despite the planet having understood the hazards of terrorism and war, the US is believed to have the strongest security and military organ in the entire world.  The system of military has become stronger over the years with the advancement in security and the weaponries being highly enshrouded with technology. Despite being very strong as a nation, the United States of America is not equal in terms of economy among the 50 different states.

With reference to the economic development, employment opportunities, and the rate of poverty in the states, we here list the top 10 states with highest poverty rates in USA.

10 Oklahoma

[alert-note] Population below poverty line : 17.2% | Unemployment rate: 5.2% [/alert-note]

oklahoma- poor state in USADerived from Choctaw words okla(meaning red) and humma(meaning people), Oklahoma is a state has a relatively low rate of unemployment. With an unemployment rate of 5.2%, this state happens to have a low rate of unemployment but a high rate of poverty. 17.2 % of the people live below poverty line in Oklahoma. With a median household income of only $44,312 , Oklahoma is also terrible in terms of health insurances. Along with the national median household income being less than the national median household income by nearly $7,000 , 18% of the total population of the state is estimated to be out of health insurance coverage. The economy of Oklahoma, which covers an area of almost 70,000 sq. miles, is believed to be entirely dependent on energy industries. Despite being led to a rather sound economic situation following in rise of Oil, Oklahoma continues to be counted in the list of the poorest states in the States.

9. South Carolina

[alert-note] Population below poverty line:  18.3% | Unemployment rate: 9.1% [/alert-note]

south carolina- highest poverty rate in USASouth Carolina is a South-eastern state of the United States, which shares its borders with North Carolina, Georgia and Atlantic Ocean. As of 2012, every 1 out of 5 people in South Carolina sustain a life below poverty line. With a huge number of textile jobs disappearing in the states, many people(especially without a college degree) have fell into unemployment. As of the latest data collection in 2012, 9.1% of the people in South Carolina are living an unemployed life, and this can be well understood as the major reason of the presence of South Carolina in this list. Even more, South Carolina is also in a miserable situation in health facilities, with researches in 2012 listing the state in the 46th position in health services. The median household income of South Carolina is also poor with an average family earning $43,107 annually.

8 ­Louisiana

[alert-note] Population below poverty :     19.9% | Unemployment rate: 6.4% [/alert-note]

Louisiana- highest poverty rate in usaNamed after Louis XIV (King of France 1643-1715), Louisiana happens to be the only state in the United states with political subdivisions known as parishes, which are equivalent to countries. Located in the Southern region of the United States, Louisiana is the 3rd in terms of population below poverty line with New Mexico and Mississippi only lying worse to Louisiana. Despite the poverty rate remaining almost consistent in the last decade, the situation has not become worse either.  The median household income of the people in Louisiana is also very poor. Despite the unemployment rate being very high, the percentage of unemployed population in the state cannot be entitled poor

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Ruchit is a 'A-level student' from Nepal currently enrolled in science stream. He loves writing for blogs.