Poverty
Specific Measure
The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which measures income net of government taxes and transfer programs (see examples below).
(Source: Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy and the Census Bureau).
How does the US rank globally?
- Specific Measure: Relative poverty rate.
(Source: Authors’ analysis of Luxembourg Income Study Database data).
- Percentage of countries the US outperforms: 25% (out of 20 countries)
- International Rank Trend: Stable
National Trend Improving
For more information about data sources and treatments, download the Data Notes.