Poverty Rate 1959 22.4% 1960 22.2 1961 21.9 1962 21.0 1963 19.5 1964 19.0 1965 17.3 1966 14.7 1967 14.2 1968 12.8 1969 12.1 1970 12.6 1971 12.5 1972 11.9 1973 11.1 1974 11.2 1975 12.3 1976 11.8 1977 11.6 1978 11.4 1979 11.7 1980 13.0 1981 14.0 1982 15.0 1983 15.2 1984 14.4 1985 14.0 1986 13.6 1987 13.4 1988 13.0 1989 12.8 1990 13.5 1991 14.2 1992 14.8 1993 15.1 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, P-60 series. Return to Overview