California tied Louisiana for the nation’s highest poverty rate in 2024, with 7 million people—or 17.7 percent of the state’s population—living below adjusted income thresholds.
The numbers come from a report released by the California Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank based in Sacramento. The organization analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data using a supplemental measure that accounts for local costs of living, family size, and medical expenses.
