In 2021, New York city had the highest number of people living below the poverty line, with 1.4 million people living in poverty. This is significantly higher than any of the other most populated cities.
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Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021
Characteristic
Number of people with income below the poverty line
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The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country. In practice, like the definition of poverty, the official or common understanding of the poverty line is significantly higher in developed countries than in developing countries.
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US Census Bureau. (September 30, 2021). Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021." Chart. September 30, 2021. Statista. Accessed June 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. (2021). Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Estimated Number of People Who Live below The Poverty Level in The Top 25 Most Populated Cities in The United States in 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Sep 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/ (last visited June 15, 2025)
Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021 [Graph], US Census Bureau, September 30, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
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