What number of People Are Poor? 36.6 million people—or 12.6 percent of the U.S. population—had family incomes below the federal poverty threshold in 2004. Update: In 2010, an estimated 45 million people live below the poverty line. One out of six Americans receives government assistance in one form or another. Over 10 million Americans receive unemployment insurance in 2011. Over 20% of children in America live in poverty. Now those are some serious poverty facts. How much money is required for these families to rise out of poverty? $105.6 billion increase will be needed to move these household incomes above the poverty levels.

Poverty rates are highest for individuals under age 25, women, Hispanics, and African Americans. Do government benefit programs have an affect on poverty levels? Without these government benefits, approximately 61 million people would end up being classified as poor. Social Security and other social programs available to individuals irrespective of income eliminate 21 million folks from poverty.