2025 U.S. poverty line update: A single person's annual income below $15,650 and a four-person household below $32,150 is considered poor. 11.1% of the population (36.8 million people) live below the poverty line.

The most heartbreaking data: low-income families spend 41.2% of their income on rent (the average American spends 33.8%), and food expenses are also higher by 15-35%. In other words, most of the money of the poor is consumed by basic necessities, leaving no money for entertainment or savings.

Comparing: The median household income in the United States is $75,580, which is 2.3 times the poverty line. Although the social welfare system has helped 27.6 million people escape poverty, the SPM child poverty rate has increased to 13.7% — indicating that the pressure on low-income families is increasing.