Poverty in the United States: 2023

The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest poverty estimates offer a dual perspective on economic wellbeing in America through the official poverty measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). While the official measure, established in the 1960s, determines poverty based on pretax income and family composition, the SPM, introduced in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides a more comprehensive view by incorporating tax credits, government assistance, and regional cost differences. Together, these metrics paint a fuller picture of poverty in the U.S., helping to guide program eligibility and assess the impact of aid programs on low-income families.