poverty
Last updatedDefinition
Poverty is typically characterized as a material condition of having little, no, or negative wealth, along with few or no material possessions. Poverty can be considered relative, as when comparing individuals or places (cities, states, countries). It is also understood as a transient rather than permanent state: The US Census Bureau uses set income thresholds to define poverty based on family size and age of members, assigning each person or family to one of 48 thresholds. The World Bank has defined poverty as a “pronounced deprivation in well-being.”
Common stereotypes related to poverty include referring to people experiencing poverty as victims or criminals, or as exceptions to these categories. Terms like “poverty line” and “poverty threshold” refer to the US federal government’s guidelines for determining eligibility for financial assistance, and thresholds are updated annually. Because of vast differences in cost of living across the country, the poverty line is an imperfect indicator when discussing an individual or family’s income level.
Common pitfalls when covering poverty include sensationalizing someone’s circumstances and stereotyping, such as referring to people experiencing poverty as victims or criminals, or as exceptions to these categories.
Additional resources
- How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty (Census)
- Are You Poor? Here’s How Poverty Is Defined (US News)
- Defining poverty, extreme poverty and inequality (GSDRC)
- Journalist’s Resource: Covering poverty: What to Avoid and How to get it Right (JournalistResource.org)
- 2022 Poverty Guidelines (Department of Health and Human Services)
Summary
Poverty is a transient rather than a permanent state, and can be relative, as when comparing individuals or places (cities, states, countries). Common pitfalls when covering poverty include sensationalizing someone’s circumstances and stereotyping, such as referring to people experiencing poverty as victims or criminals, or as exceptions to these categories.