Poverty

Poverty

At a glance

Here is a snapshot of how the number of Americans living below the poverty line has fluctuated since 1959, when the first figures were made available. President Lyndon Johnson launched his war on poverty in 1964:

1959: 39.5 million, 22 percent (highest)

1964: 36 million, 19 percent

1969: 24.2 million, 12.1 percent

1973: 23 million, 11.1 percent (lowest)

1983: 35.3 million, 15.2 percent

1989: 31.5 million, 12.8 percent

1993: 39.3 million, 15.1 percent

2000: 31.6 million, 11.3 percent

2007: 37.3 million, 12.5 percent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau