Share of the poor in "deep poverty," 1975–2011

Note: Shaded areas denote recessions.

Source: Authors' analysis of Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement Historical Poverty Tables (Tables 2 and 22)

Documentation and methodology

Underlying data are from Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement Historical Poverty Tables, Table 2, “Poverty Status, by Family Relationship, Race, and Hispanic Origin,” and Table 22, “Number of People Below 50 Percent of Poverty Level.”