Note: Transfers include SNAP, housing subsidies, school lunch, LIHEAP, WIC, EITC and stimulus payments, cash welfare, SSI, Social Security, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation, and veteran’s payments.
Source: Calculations by ASPE based on the Current Population Survey, as augmented by the Columbia Population Research Center, 1968 to 2013 (see Fox et al 2015).
Percentage of People in Poverty, Using the Alternative Poverty Measure, 1967-2012
CSV| Year | Alternative Poverty Measure | Alternative Poverty Measure without Transfers |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 25.6% | 26.9% |
| 1968 | 23.7% | 25.4% |
| 1969 | 22.4% | 23.9% |
| 1970 | 22.1% | 24.8% |
| 1971 | 22.0% | 26.4% |
| 1972 | 20.5% | 25.4% |
| 1973 | 19.2% | 24.8% |
| 1974 | 20.1% | 26.2% |
| 1975 | 19.4% | 26.8% |
| 1976 | 18.9% | 25.9% |
| 1977 | 18.7% | 25.4% |
| 1978 | 18.0% | 24.4% |
| 1979 | 17.7% | 24.1% |
| 1980 | 19.4% | 25.6% |
| 1981 | 20.6% | 26.7% |
| 1982 | 21.7% | 28.0% |
| 1983 | 22.1% | 28.1% |
| 1984 | 21.1% | 26.4% |
| 1985 | 20.7% | 26.2% |
| 1986 | 20.1% | 25.3% |
| 1987 | 19.0% | 24.3% |
| 1988 | 18.9% | 24.4% |
| 1989 | 18.6% | 24.2% |
| 1990 | 19.3% | 24.7% |
| 1991 | 19.4% | 26.1% |
| 1992 | 19.8% | 26.8% |
| 1993 | 20.7% | 27.7% |
| 1994 | 19.5% | 27.1% |
| 1995 | 17.7% | 25.9% |
| 1996 | 17.5% | 25.6% |
| 1997 | 16.6% | 24.9% |
| 1998 | 15.5% | 23.7% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | 22.9% |
| 2000 | 14.4% | 22.0% |
| 2001 | 14.9% | 22.9% |
| 2002 | 15.1% | 23.7% |
| 2003 | 15.3% | 24.3% |
| 2004 | 14.9% | 24.3% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | 24.0% |
| 2006 | 14.6% | 23.4% |
| 2007 | 14.7% | 23.6% |
| 2008 | 14.6% | 25.3% |
| 2009 | 14.7% | 27.5% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | 28.1% |
| 2011 | 15.5% | 28.4% |
| 2012 | 16.0% | 28.7% |