What is the official U.S. poverty rate for 2025 according to the Census Bureau?

1. What the “official” rate means and where this number comes from

The “official” poverty rate cited by the Census Bureau is based on the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) and measures pretax cash income against fixed poverty thresholds; the Bureau reported an official poverty rate of 10.6% for 2024 in its Poverty in the United States: 2024 product and related press materials ^{[1] [2]}. The CPS ASEC asks households about income in the prior calendar year and is the standard source for the official measure ^[2].

2. Why another number — the Supplemental Poverty Measure — also matters

The Census Bureau publishes the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which accounts for taxes, in-kind benefits, and typical expenses and came in at 12.9% for 2024; the Bureau and analysts note the SPM can tell a different story about economic hardship because it includes policy supports and cost adjustments that the official measure does not ^{[2] [3]}. The Bureau’s explanatory materials explicitly contrast the two: the official measure is pretax cash income only, while the SPM is a post-tax-and-transfer indicator ^[2].

3. Recent trend — small decline but “not significantly changed” framing

Census releases show the official rate fell 0.4 percentage points from 11.1% in 2023 to 10.6% in 2024 ^{[1] [4] [2]}. Several outlets, including Reuters, summarized the 2024 results by saying many poverty and income indicators “did not change significantly” year over year even though the official rate edged down — a reminder that statistical significance and small point movements are not the same as clear structural shifts ^[5].

4. Headline numbers vs. deeper interpretation — population counts and context

The Bureau reported about 35.9 million people in poverty in 2024 alongside the 10.6% rate, and real median household income showed little change from 2023 ($83,730, not statistically different from $82,690) — figures the Bureau tied together in its September 2025 reporting on 2024 data ^{[2] [5]}. Analysts and the Bureau caution that response-rate changes in surveys since the pandemic can affect precision and that researchers examine multiple measures ^[2].

5. How government programs and methodology influence measured poverty

The Census Bureau and policy analysts highlight that the SPM reflects the effects of programs (tax credits, food and rental assistance) that lift people above the official threshold; therefore, comparisons between the official and SPM rates illustrate how programs alter measured hardship ^{[3] [2]}. Advocacy and research organizations sometimes emphasize one measure over the other depending on their policy agenda: some cite the SPM to show remaining need after supports, others use the official rate tied to program eligibility formulas ^{[3] [6]}.

6. Practical takeaways for readers and policymakers

If you want “the official U.S. poverty rate” as reported by the Census Bureau for the most recent calendar year in this reporting cycle, use 10.6% for 2024 (released in 2025) ^{[1] [2]}. For fuller policy analysis, consult the SPM (12.9% in 2024) and note that different measures can lead to different conclusions about the depth and drivers of poverty ^{[2] [3]}.

7. Limitations and what the available reporting does not say

Available sources do not mention an “official” Census Bureau poverty rate explicitly labeled for calendar year 2025 in the provided documents; the Bureau’s published figures in these sources cover 2024 and were released in 2025 materials ^{[1] [2]}. For a 2025 calendar‑year official rate you would need the CPS ASEC collected in 2026 and a subsequent Census report — not found in current reporting (not found in current reporting).

Sources cited: U.S. Census Bureau poverty and income releases and related analyses ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [7]}.