Poverty and living standards in Oklahoma, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 14.8% of people in Oklahoma lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 588,757 people; 9th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Oklahoma gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Oklahoma was 15.1% (578,631 people), so the rate is down 0.3 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 Oklahoma?
18.7% of children under 18 in Oklahoma were in poverty in 2024, about 177,739 children; 9th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 21.3% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Oklahoma?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Oklahoma was 0.4696 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 22nd most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Oklahoma are cost-burdened?
46.1% of renting households in Oklahoma spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 21.8% spent half or more; the 30% share is 12th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Oklahoma get food stamps?
14.0% of households in Oklahoma (224,502) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 9th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 50% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 55% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Oklahoma?
An average of 694,230 people in Oklahoma received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 1.1% on fiscal 2024 (686,808), 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 Oklahoma?
SNAP benefits paid in Oklahoma totaled $1.6 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $188.50 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 22nd largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Oklahoma?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 5,174 people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma, down 5.4% on 2024 (5,467) and up 31.2% on 2019 (3,944); 25th 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 Oklahoma sleep outside?
Of those counted in Oklahoma in January 2025, 3,239 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,935 (37.4%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 18th 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 Oklahoma?
The January 2025 count in Oklahoma included 841 people in families with children, 586 children under 18, 1,301 chronically homeless individuals and 285 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Oklahoma are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 15.4% of households in Oklahoma were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 5th highest among the 50 states and DC and statistically higher than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Oklahoma getting worse?
5.7% of households in Oklahoma had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 14.6% in 2018-20 and 15.5% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +0.8 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Oklahoma compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Oklahoma ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 12 | Michigan | 13.4% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Oklahoma ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | West Virginia | 20.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 19.6% |
| 8 | Kentucky | 18.9% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 18.7% |
| 10 | Tennessee | 18.4% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 18.1% |
| 12 | Texas | 17.9% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Oklahoma ranks 22 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Rhode Island | 0.4717 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 0.4714 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 0.4711 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 0.4696 |
| 23 | Virginia | 0.4691 |
| 24 | Michigan | 0.4679 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 0.4668 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Oklahoma ranks 40 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | District of Columbia | 47.7% |
| 38 | West Virginia | 47.0% |
| 39 | Nebraska | 46.5% |
| 40 | Oklahoma | 46.1% |
| 41 | Arkansas | 45.5% |
| 42 | Missouri | 45.2% |
| 43 | Kentucky | 45.2% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Oklahoma ranks 9 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | District of Columbia | 15.9% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15.1% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 15.1% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.0% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 13.9% |
| 11 | California | 13.5% |
| 12 | Illinois | 13.4% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Oklahoma ranks 5 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Texas | 16.9% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.2% |
| 4 | Mississippi | 16.2% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 15.4% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 14.5% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 14.4% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 13.7% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Oklahoma ranks 27 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Indiana | 6,675 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 5,789 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 5,243 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 5,174 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | 5,138 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 4,683 |
| 30 | Utah | 4,584 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Oklahoma ranks 18 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Texas | 43.4% |
| 16 | Louisiana | 42.1% |
| 17 | Mississippi | 41.7% |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 37.4% |
| 19 | Kentucky | 34.5% |
| 20 | South Carolina | 32.4% |
| 21 | Missouri | 31.5% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Oklahoma ranks 20 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Oregon | 770,894 |
| 18 | Alabama | 740,270 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 696,070 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 694,230 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 693,082 |
| 22 | Maryland | 675,134 |
| 23 | Missouri | 662,382 |
More on Oklahoma: 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…)
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