Poverty and living standards in Alabama, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 15.2% of people in Alabama lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 763,679 people; 8th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Alabama gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Alabama was 15.6% (747,478 people), so the rate is down 0.4 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in Alabama?
20.4% of children under 18 in Alabama were in poverty in 2024, about 227,337 children; 5th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 22.4% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Alabama?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Alabama was 0.4745 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 14th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Alabama are cost-burdened?
48.2% of renting households in Alabama spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 24.4% spent half or more; the 30% share is 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Alabama get food stamps?
13.1% of households in Alabama (268,775) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 15th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 53% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 56% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Alabama?
An average of 740,270 people in Alabama received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 1.6% on fiscal 2024 (752,161), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in Alabama?
SNAP benefits paid in Alabama totaled $1.7 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $194.74 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 12th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Alabama?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 4,137 people experiencing homelessness in Alabama, down 10.1% on 2024 (4,601) and up 26.9% on 2019 (3,261); 20th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in Alabama sleep outside?
Of those counted in Alabama in January 2025, 1,912 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 2,225 (53.8%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 6th highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in Alabama?
The January 2025 count in Alabama included 790 people in families with children, 470 children under 18, 505 chronically homeless individuals and 214 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Alabama are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 11.5% of households in Alabama were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 25th highest among the 50 states and DC and not statistically different from the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Alabama getting worse?
4.4% of households in Alabama had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 14.0% in 2018-20 and 16.7% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is -2.5 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Alabama compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Alabama ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | New Mexico | 15.8% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 15.4% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
| 8 | Alabama | 15.2% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.8% |
| 10 | New York | 14.0% |
| 11 | Texas | 13.4% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Alabama ranks 5 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mississippi | 25.0% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 25.0% |
| 4 | New Mexico | 20.5% |
| 5 | Alabama | 20.4% |
| 6 | West Virginia | 20.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 19.6% |
| 8 | Kentucky | 18.9% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Alabama ranks 14 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Mississippi | 0.4766 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 0.4747 |
| 13 | Tennessee | 0.4747 |
| 14 | Alabama | 0.4745 |
| 15 | Georgia | 0.4730 |
| 16 | Washington | 0.4725 |
| 17 | New Mexico | 0.4722 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Alabama ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Indiana | 48.5% |
| 31 | New Mexico | 48.4% |
| 32 | Idaho | 48.4% |
| 33 | Alabama | 48.2% |
| 34 | Utah | 48.2% |
| 35 | Ohio | 47.7% |
| 36 | Minnesota | 47.7% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Alabama ranks 15 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Illinois | 13.4% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 13.4% |
| 14 | Michigan | 13.2% |
| 15 | Alabama | 13.1% |
| 16 | Maine | 12.7% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 12.0% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 11.9% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Alabama ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Arizona | 11.8% |
| 23 | Utah | 11.8% |
| 24 | Tennessee | 11.7% |
| 25 | Alabama | 11.5% |
| 26 | California | 11.4% |
| 27 | Idaho | 11.3% |
| 28 | Delaware | 11.3% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Alabama ranks 32 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | New Mexico | 4,683 |
| 30 | Utah | 4,584 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 4,398 |
| 32 | Alabama | 4,137 |
| 33 | Connecticut | 3,735 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 3,688 |
| 35 | Vermont | 3,386 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Alabama ranks 6 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hawaii | 59.2% |
| 4 | Arizona | 55.7% |
| 5 | Georgia | 54.2% |
| 6 | Alabama | 53.8% |
| 7 | Washington | 53.7% |
| 8 | Arkansas | 53.2% |
| 9 | Idaho | 50.0% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Alabama ranks 18 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Louisiana | 818,438 |
| 16 | Virginia | 817,733 |
| 17 | Oregon | 770,894 |
| 18 | Alabama | 740,270 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 696,070 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 694,230 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 693,082 |
More on Alabama: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.