The number of persons in poverty has increased in the past decade in the Rural Capital Area (RCA). While 2021’s 99,900 people in poverty did not reach 2014’s decade high of 101,000, it was the highest number the area has seen in many years. This is likely due to the effects of the pandemic on region’s population.

Figure 1: Persons in Poverty, 2011-2021, Rural Capital Area

Persons in Poverty Rural Capital Area 2021

However, the percentages tell a more encouraging story. Although the number of persons in poverty has increased, so has the overall population of the RCA. Excluding the pandemic years, the percentage of those in poverty in the RCA has steadily decreased, both in minors (those 18 and under) and the general population. Furthermore, the RCA has consistently lower percentages of the population in poverty than the US as a whole.

Figure 2: Percent in Poverty, 2011-2021

Percent in Poverty Rural Capital Area vs US 2021

Even more encouraging is that, although the overall percentage of the general population in poverty has increased by 10.5% in the RCA in the past decade, the percentage of minors in poverty has decreased by 10.1%. This means that there are fewer children living in poverty in the RCA than there were ten years ago, despite population growth.

Figure 3: Growth of Population in Poverty, 2011-2021

Growth in Poverty Rural Capital Area vs US 2021

So, what were the effects of the pandemic on poverty? The chart below shows the year-to-year percentage growth of the population in poverty. While most years in the RCA showed negative numbers, despite some significant jumps in 2012, 2014, and 2018, the year-to-year percentage growth in poverty had been trending downwards. However, 2021 changed all that. As the chart shows, poverty in the general population increased by 18.7% and 21.7% in minors in the RCA. The pandemic also affected poverty in the RCA more drastically than the US as a whole. The general population in poverty only increased by 7.9% while the population of minors in poverty increased by 9.3%. Despite these grim statistics, the pre-pandemic trendline is encouraging. While we don’t yet fully know the long-term effects of the pandemic on poverty, hopefully the pandemic years will be a blip in the long-term decline of poverty in the RCA.