New Census Data Show Increases in Poverty, Decreases in Incomes and Health Care Insurance Coverage over the Last Ten Years

JACKSON, MS – New state Census Bureau figures released yesterday illustrate a substantial increase in poverty and in the number of Mississippians living without health insurance over the last decade.  Adjusted for inflation, incomes also declined since 1999/2000.

• The poverty rate in Mississippi rose from 15.6% at the start of the decade to 22.9% in 2009/2010.  Mississippi was the only state with a poverty rate above 20% at the end of the decade and experienced the second largest increase in poverty of 7.3 percentage points over that period of time. 
• The number of Mississippians living without health insurance rose from 399,219 in 1999/2000 to 550,657 in 2009/2010.  The overall rate of Mississippians aged 65 and younger without health insurance was 22% - up from 16.5% in 1999/2000.
• Incomes also declined substantially.  Adjusting for inflation, median incomes declined $6,142 from $42,963 in 1999/2000 to $36,821 at the end of the decade.   

These state figures from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey are preliminary. On September 22, the Census Bureau will release more definitive 2010 data as part of the American Community Survey.

Read the full release.