In 2016, 40.6 million people, or 12.7% of the population, lived in poverty, for example, a family of four that earned less than $24,339. One-third of those living in poverty were children under the age of 18 and 11% were seniors. The remaining 56% were of working age (18 to 64). One quarter of all those living in poverty were in the labor force and an additional 3% were early retirees. An additional 12% of the total were of working-age and disabled. Another 15% of those living in poverty were working-age adults who were students or caregivers. Compared to 30 years ago, a lower percentage of seniors are living in poverty, but because baby boomers are aging the sheer number of poor seniors is greater. Over the past 30 years, a growing number of working-age people were poor (from 15.4 million in 1986 to 21.9 million in 2016). The largest group of working-age adults living in poverty were employees working less than full-time and full-year: 28%.
Source: Brookings Institution, 10/12/17, Poor in America
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