Poverty in Tennessee
Tennessee
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Tennessee Value:
13.5%
Percentage of households living below the federal poverty level
Tennessee Rank:
37
Poverty in depth:
Additional Measures:
Appears In:
Poverty by State
Percentage of households living below the federal poverty level
Poverty in
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2022
<= 10.5%
10.6% - 11.8%
11.9% - 12.5%
12.6% - 13.7%
>= 13.8%
Poverty: Poverty
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2022
About Poverty
US Value: 12.8%
Top State(s): New Hampshire: 8.0%
Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 19.6%
Definition: Percentage of households living below the federal poverty level
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2022
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Poverty is a social determinant of health with intergenerational impacts. It is associated with poorer environmental conditions and health outcomes, as well as increased risk of mortality and chronic disease. Those with incomes below the federal poverty level may struggle to consistently meet basic needs such as stable housing, food and health care.
The percentage of individuals living below the poverty level is higher among:
- Women compared with men.
- Children compared with adults.
- Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic individuals, who have rates more than 2 times higher than those of Asian and non-Hispanic white individuals.
- Those living in rural areas compared with those in metropolitan areas.
Many federal, state and local government programs, as well as community interventions, exist to support and help reduce the number of people living in poverty. Some of them include:
- Policy initiatives that supplement income such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for those with limited income and few resources.
- Universal basic income (UBI) programs that provide guaranteed, regular living income to every individual within the community, regardless of age, employment, background or any other conditions.
- Programs that improve access to health care by reducing costs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
- Food and nutrition assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
- Affordable housing policies such as rental vouchers, subsidized housing and utility assistance programs
- Policy initiatives that address racial and ethnic disparities in income, housing and health.
Healthy People 2030 has several economic stability objectives, including a goal to reduce the proportion of people living in poverty.
Brady, David, Ulrich Kohler, and Hui Zheng. “Novel Estimates of Mortality Associated With Poverty in the US.” JAMA Internal Medicine 183, no. 6 (June 1, 2023): 618–19. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.0276.
Khullar, Dhruv, and Dave A. Chokshi. “Health, Income, & Poverty: Where We Are & What Could Help.” Health Affairs Health Policy Brief. Bethesda, MD: Project HOPE, October 4, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1377/hpb20180817.901935.
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