How many people live below poverty line in the United States?
The official poverty rate fluctuates between 12% and 15% as measured by income. However when people’s income falls below this level there are a variety of government programs that provide help, and some have savings to fall back on, so probably only 2% or 3% actually “live” below the poverty line. Also many people do not stay below the poverty line but move back and forth and 40% of the population spends some period with incomes below the poverty line in any 10 year period.
