President Donald Trump is highlighting newly released economic data showing that the official U.S. poverty rate has fallen to its lowest level on record.
During recent remarks, Trump described the country as having the “best poverty numbers ever in the history of our country.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the official poverty rate fell to 10.2% in 2025, the lowest level since the government began tracking the measure in 1959.
The decline marked the second consecutive year that the official poverty rate decreased.
Median household income also reached a record high.
However, a record-low poverty rate does not mean poverty has disappeared. Approximately 34.5 million Americans were still living below the official poverty line in 2025.
The official poverty rate is also only one measure of Americans’ economic circumstances. Families can still experience financial pressure from housing, food, health care, transportation and other expenses even when their income places them above the federal poverty threshold.
Trump has cited the latest numbers as evidence of economic progress under his administration.
The economic debate comes as voters prepare for the November 3 midterm elections.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be on the ballot, along with 35 Senate seats and 36 gubernatorial races.
As of September 29, Election Day is 35 days away.