Complete Health Indicator Report of Utah Population Characteristics: Poverty, Children Age 17 and Under
Definition
Percentage of children age 17 and younger living in households with income at or below the federal poverty threshold.Numerator
Estimated number of children age 17 and younger living in households with income at or below the federal poverty threshold as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.Denominator
Estimated number age 17 and younger in Utah.Data Interpretation Issues
Poverty status is determined by comparing annual income to a set of dollar values called thresholds that vary by family size, number of children, and age of householder. If a family's before tax money income is less than the dollar value of their threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty. For people not living in families, poverty status is determined by comparing the individual's income to his or her threshold. The poverty thresholds are updated annually to allow for changes in the cost of living using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). They do not vary geographically. The poverty threshold for a family of four including two children was $29, 678 in 2022.Why Is This Important?
Poverty takes into account both income and family size, and has both immediate and long-lasting effects on health. Income provides an assessment of the financial resources available to individual persons or families for basic necessities (e.g., food, clothing, and healthcare) to maintain or improve their well-being. Persons living in poverty are worse off than persons in more affluent households for many of the indicators tracked by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Poverty in the early years of a child's life, more than at any other time, has especially harmful effects on continuing healthy development and well-being, including developmental delays and infant mortality. Well-being in later childhood, such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and educational attainment, is also influenced by early childhood poverty.Other Objectives
Utah's 42 Community Health IndicatorsHow Are We Doing?
According to the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), an estimated 8.5% of Utah children aged 17 or under (approximately 78,360 Utah children) were living in poverty in 2022. Children born into poverty are less likely to have regular health care, proper nutrition, and opportunities for mental stimulation and enrichment.How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
Utah has a lower percentage of children in poverty than the U.S. as a whole, 8.5% vs. 16.3% in 2022.What Is Being Done?
While the Utah Department of Health has no program designed to reduce the number of children in poverty, there are programs such as Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) that pay for health care for eligible children.Available Services
For information on the Medicaid program: [[br]] In the Salt Lake City area, call 801-538-6155.[[br]] In Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada, call toll-free 1-800-662-9651.[[br]] From other states, call 1-801-538-6155.[[br]] Medicaid Customer Service staff are available to take inquiries.[[br]] Or visit the Utah Medicaid website:[[br]] [https://medicaid.utah.gov][[br]] [[br]] For information on CHIP:[[br]] Call the Health Resource Line: 1-888-222-2542[[br]] Or visit the their websites:[[br]] CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program (for children 0-18) -[[br]] [https://chip.health.utah.gov/][[br]] Voices for Utah Children is a private, not-for-profit organization that advocates for children. Information about their activities may be found on their website - [http://www.utahchildren.org]Related Indicators
Relevant Population Characteristics
Being a younger or single parent increases the risk of living in poverty.Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:
Health Care System Factors
Families in poverty are less likely to have private health insurance coverage. Many children living at or near the poverty level are eligible for public health insurance programs, such as Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program).Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:
Risk Factors
One of the best ways for adults to avoid poverty is to get a good education. Adolescents who give birth are more likely to live in poverty since they are more likely to limit their education. The association between poverty and health status is probably bi-directional. That is, persons with chronic mental or physical illness are less able to achieve their educational goals and get good jobs. At the same time, persons who have lower incomes are less able to afford health care and may have less healthy lifestyles. For instance, persons with lower education and income levels are more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to get regular exercise.Related Risk Factors Indicators:
Health Status Outcomes
Low socio-economic status is a risk factor for many diseases and health problems for persons of all ages. Children in poverty are at higher risk for health problems such as asthma and dental disease. Children in poverty are also at increased risk of hunger and poor performance in school. An important goal of services to children in poverty is to break the "cycle of poverty" in which children in poverty are raised in conditions that promote poverty in adulthood.Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:
Graphical Data Views
The data for this graph come from the Current Population Survey (CPS) for years 1995-2007, from the American Community Survey (ACS) for years 2008-2016 and from Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for years 2017-2022
Utah vs. U.S. | Year | Percentage of children | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 56 | ||||||
Utah | 1995 | 10.5% | 9.4% | 11.6% | ||
Utah | 1996 | 11.3% | 9.3% | 13.3% | ||
Utah | 1997 | 12.5% | 10.4% | 14.5% | ||
Utah | 1998 | 14.0% | 9.9% | 18.1% | ||
Utah | 1999 | 7.1% | 4.2% | 10.0% | ||
Utah | 2000 | 11.6% | 8.0% | 15.2% | ||
Utah | 2001 | 12.5% | 9.7% | 15.3% | ||
Utah | 2002 | 12.5% | 9.9% | 15.1% | ||
Utah | 2003 | 12.4% | 10.8% | 14.0% | ||
Utah | 2004 | 13.2% | 11.4% | 15.0% | ||
Utah | 2005 | 11.8% | 10.1% | 13.5% | ||
Utah | 2006 | 12.6% | 10.9% | 14.3% | ||
Utah | 2007 | 12.6% | 10.9% | 14.3% | ||
Utah | 2008 | 10.5% | 9.7% | 11.3% | ||
Utah | 2009 | 12.2% | 11.2% | 13.2% | ||
Utah | 2010 | 15.7% | 14.7% | 16.7% | ||
Utah | 2011 | 15.9% | 14.7% | 17.1% | ||
Utah | 2012 | 15.1% | 13.9% | 16.3% | ||
Utah | 2013 | 14.8% | 13.8% | 15.8% | ||
Utah | 2014 | 13.3% | 12.2% | 14.4% | ||
Utah | 2015 | 12.9% | 10.8% | 11.8% | ||
Utah | 2016 | 11.1% | 10.2% | 12.0% | ||
Utah | 2017 | 10.6% | 9.9% | 11.3% | ||
Utah | 2018 | 9.7% | 9.0% | 10.4% | ||
Utah | 2019 | 9.6% | 8.9% | 10.3% | ||
Utah | 2020 | 7.5% | 6.8% | 8.2% | ||
Utah | 2021 | 8.5% | 7.9% | 9.1% | ||
Utah | 2022 | 8.5% | 7.8% | 9.2% | ||
U.S. | 1995 | 20.8% | 20.1% | 21.5% | ||
U.S. | 1996 | 20.5% | 19.8% | 21.1% | ||
U.S. | 1997 | 19.9% | 19.2% | 20.6% | ||
U.S. | 1998 | 18.9% | 18.2% | 19.6% | ||
U.S. | 1999 | 16.9% | 16.2% | 17.6% | ||
U.S. | 2000 | 16.1% | 15.5% | 16.7% | ||
U.S. | 2001 | 16.3% | 15.8% | 16.8% | ||
U.S. | 2002 | 16.7% | 16.2% | 17.2% | ||
U.S. | 2003 | 17.6% | 17.3% | 17.9% | ||
U.S. | 2004 | 17.8% | 17.5% | 18.1% | ||
U.S. | 2005 | 17.6% | 17.3% | 17.9% | ||
U.S. | 2006 | 17.4% | 17.1% | 17.7% | ||
U.S. | 2007 | 18.0% | 17.7% | 18.3% | ||
U.S. | 2008 | 18.2% | 18.0% | 18.4% | ||
U.S. | 2009 | 20.0% | 19.8% | 20.2% | ||
U.S. | 2010 | 21.6% | 21.4% | 21.8% | ||
U.S. | 2011 | 22.5% | 22.3% | 22.7% | ||
U.S. | 2012 | 22.6% | 22.4% | 22.8% | ||
U.S. | 2013 | 22.2% | 22.0% | 22.4% | ||
U.S. | 2014 | 21.7% | 21.5% | 21.9% | ||
U.S. | 2015 | 20.7% | 20.5% | 20.9% | ||
U.S. | 2016 | 19.5% | 19.3% | 19.7% | ||
U.S. | 2017 | 18.4% | 18.2% | 18.6% | ||
U.S. | 2018 | 18.0% | 17.8% | 18.2% | ||
U.S. | 2019 | 16.8% | 16.6% | 17.0% | ||
U.S. | 2020 | 15.7% | 15.7% | 15.7% | ||
U.S. | 2021 | 16.9% | 16.7% | 17.1% | ||
U.S. | 2022 | 16.3% | 16.1% | 16.5% |
Data Notes
Both the ACS and CPS data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value.Data Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, Model-based Estimates for States, Counties, & School Districts
- U.S. Current Population Survey
- U.S. Bureau of the Census
- American Community Survey
County | Percentage of children | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 31 | ||||||
Beaver | 13.2% | 8.8% | 17.6% | |||
Box Elder | 9.1% | 6.5% | 11.7% | |||
Cache | 9.5% | 7.5% | 11.5% | |||
Carbon | 16.8% | 11.3% | 22.3% | |||
Daggett | 8.9% | 6.1% | 11.7% | |||
Davis | 6.8% | 5.3% | 8.3% | |||
Duchesne | 17.0% | 12.3% | 21.7% | |||
Emery | 14.8% | 10.3% | 19.3% | |||
Garfield | 14.3% | 9.4% | 19.2% | |||
Grand | 14.1% | 9.5% | 18.7% | |||
Iron | 13.5% | 9.1% | 17.9% | |||
Juab | 10.2% | 6.8% | 13.6% | |||
Kane | 10.0% | 6.6% | 13.4% | |||
Millard | 14.1% | 9.3% | 18.9% | |||
Morgan | 3.6% | 2.4% | 4.8% | |||
Piute | 25.9% | 17.3% | 34.5% | |||
Rich | 11.6% | 7.7% | 15.5% | |||
Salt Lake | 8.4% | 6.8% | 10.0% | |||
San Juan | 29.0% | 21.7% | 36.3% | |||
Sanpete | 18.4% | 14.1% | 22.7% | |||
Sevier | 13.4% | 8.9% | 17.9% | |||
Summit | 5.1% | 3.4% | 6.8% | |||
Tooele | 7.1% | 5.0% | 9.2% | |||
Uintah | 14.6% | 10.1% | 19.1% | |||
Utah | 5.9% | 4.5% | 7.3% | |||
Wasatch | 5.6% | 3.8% | 7.4% | |||
Washington | 13.0% | 10.1% | 15.9% | |||
Wayne | 18.6% | 12.5% | 24.7% | |||
Weber | 10.4% | 7.8% | 13.0% | |||
State | 8.5% | 7.8% | 9.2% | |||
U.S. | 16.3% | 16.1% | 16.5% |
Data Notes
For information on how SAIPE estimates are created, please see: [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/technical-documentation/methodology.html].Data Source
U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, Model-based Estimates for States, Counties, & School DistrictsLocal Health District | Percentage of children | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 15 | ||||||
Bear River | 9.4% | 7.8% | 11.0% | |||
Central | 14.8% | 12.7% | 16.9% | |||
Davis County | 6.8% | 5.3% | 8.3% | |||
Salt Lake County | 8.4% | 6.8% | 10.0% | |||
San Juan | 29.0% | 21.7% | 36.3% | |||
Southeast | 15.7% | 12.4% | 19.0% | |||
Southwest | 13.0% | 10.8% | 15.2% | |||
Summit | 5.1% | 3.4% | 6.8% | |||
Tooele | 7.1% | 5.0% | 9.2% | |||
TriCounty | 15.4% | 12.1% | 18.7% | |||
Utah County | 5.9% | 4.5% | 7.3% | |||
Wasatch | 5.6% | 3.8% | 7.4% | |||
Weber-Morgan | 10.0% | 7.5% | 12.5% | |||
State of Utah | 8.5% | 7.8% | 9.2% | |||
U.S. | 16.3% | 16.1% | 16.5% |
Data Notes
The poverty threshold for a family of four including two children was $29,678 in 2022.Data Source
U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, Model-based Estimates for States, Counties, & School DistrictsData from the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimate. Table B17020A-E
RaceEth: Am. Indian, Asian, Black, Pacific Is, White | Age Group | Percentage of children | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 15 | ||||||
American Indian | Under 6 years | 20.7% | 11.3% | 30.1% | ||
American Indian | 6 to 11 years | 19.1% | 10.6% | 27.6% | ||
American Indian | 12 to 17 years | 14.8% | 8.2% | 21.4% | ||
Asian | Under 6 years | 16.1% | 3.9% | 28.3% | ||
Asian | 6 to 11 years | 5.1% | 1.1% | 9.1% | ||
Asian | 12 to 17 years | 20.4% | 11.3% | 29.5% | ||
Black | Under 6 years | 37.8% | 19.8% | 55.8% | ||
Black | 6 to 11 years | 2.6% | 0.0% | 7.8% | ||
Black | 12 to 17 years | 2.6% | 0.0% | 5.8% | ||
Pacific Islander | Under 6 years | 8.1% | 0.0% | 16.5% | ||
Pacific Islander | 6 to 11 years | 15.3% | 1.6% | 29.0% | ||
Pacific Islander | 12 to 17 years | 18.4% | 3.2% | 33.6% | ||
White | Under 6 years | 8.6% | 6.9% | 10.3% | ||
White | 6 to 11 years | 6.9% | 5.6% | 8.2% | ||
White | 12 to 17 years | 6.0% | 4.8% | 7.2% |
Data Notes
Persons in race categories are only those who selected a single race. The ACS data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value.Data Sources
- U.S. Bureau of the Census
- American Community Survey
Data from the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimate. Table B17020H-I
Ethnicity/Race | Age Group | Percentage of children | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 6 | ||||||
Hispanic or Latino | Under 6 years | 16.3% | 12.5% | 20.1% | ||
Hispanic or Latino | 6 to 11 years | 16.3% | 13.1% | 19.5% | ||
Hispanic or Latino | 12 to 17 years | 10.8% | 7.0% | 14.6% | ||
White, Non-Hispanic | Under 6 years | 7.7% | 6.1% | 9.3% | ||
White, Non-Hispanic | 6 to 11 years | 6.3% | 5.1% | 7.5% | ||
White, Non-Hispanic | 12 to 17 years | 5.3% | 4.3% | 6.3% |
Data Notes
Hispanic persons may be of any race. The ACS data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value.Data Sources
- U.S. Bureau of the Census
- American Community Survey
Data from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimate. Table S1701
Utah Small Areas | Percentage of children | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 104 | ||||||
Brigham City | 7.1% | 3.5% | 10.7% | |||
Box Elder Co (Other) V2 | 9.3% | 4.8% | 13.8% | |||
Tremonton | 10.3% | 6.3% | 14.3% | |||
Logan V2 | 14.5% | 10.8% | 18.2% | |||
North Logan | 29.7% | 20.9% | 38.5% | |||
Cache (Other)/Rich (All) V2 | 5.0% | 2.1% | 7.9% | |||
Hyrum | 9.4% | 1.5% | 17.3% | |||
Smithfield | 8.6% | 3.3% | 13.9% | |||
Ben Lomond | 10.0% | 6.4% | 13.6% | |||
Weber County (East) | 4.1% | 2.3% | 5.9% | |||
Morgan County | 1.3% | 0.0% | 2.7% | * | ||
Ogden (Downtown) | 11.0% | 7.9% | 14.1% | |||
South Ogden | 7.4% | 5.0% | 9.8% | |||
Roy/Hooper | 9.4% | 5.9% | 12.9% | |||
Riverdale | 8.7% | 4.9% | 12.5% | |||
Clearfield Area/Hooper | 10.8% | 7.8% | 13.8% | |||
Layton/South Weber | 10.7% | 6.5% | 14.9% | |||
Kaysville/Fruit Heights | 3.0% | 0.9% | 5.1% | |||
Syracuse | 8.5% | 1.6% | 15.4% | |||
Centerville | 0.5% | -0.2% | 1.2% | |||
Farmington | 4.1% | 0.2% | 8.0% | |||
North Salt Lake | 2.8% | 0.1% | 5.5% | |||
Woods Cross/West Bountiful | 9.6% | 2.5% | 16.7% | |||
Bountiful | 9.6% | 5.5% | 13.7% | |||
SLC (Rose Park) | 20.1% | 12.2% | 28.0% | |||
SLC (Avenues) | 7.7% | 4.0% | 11.4% | |||
SLC (Foothill/East Bench) | 5.8% | 1.6% | 10.0% | |||
Magna | 10.1% | 5.2% | 15.0% | |||
SLC (Glendale) V2 | 19.2% | 11.3% | 27.1% | |||
West Valley (Center) | 17.2% | 11.2% | 23.2% | |||
West Valley (West) V2 | 7.2% | 4.1% | 10.3% | |||
West Valley (East) V2 | 20.0% | 14.2% | 25.8% | |||
SLC (Downtown) V2 | 19.6% | 11.9% | 27.3% | |||
SLC (Southeast Liberty) | 8.8% | 1.3% | 16.3% | |||
South Salt Lake | 20.2% | 11.2% | 29.2% | |||
SLC (Sugar House) | 6.4% | 2.9% | 9.9% | |||
Millcreek (South) | 2.8% | 0.8% | 4.8% | |||
Millcreek (East) | 2.2% | 0.4% | 4.0% | |||
Holladay V2 | 8.3% | 3.6% | 13.0% | |||
Cottonwood | 7.4% | 4.3% | 10.5% | |||
Kearns V2 | 12.0% | 7.5% | 16.5% | |||
Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W) | 11.0% | 5.8% | 16.2% | |||
Taylorsville (West) | 11.7% | 5.4% | 18.0% | |||
Murray | 11.6% | 7.8% | 15.4% | |||
Midvale | 10.3% | 4.8% | 15.8% | |||
West Jordan (Northeast) V2 | 10.9% | 6.8% | 15.0% | |||
West Jordan (Southeast) | 8.1% | 5.8% | 10.4% | |||
West Jordan (W)/Copperton | 5.7% | 3.0% | 8.4% | |||
South Jordan V2 | 1.9% | 0.5% | 3.3% | |||
Daybreak | 2.9% | 1.2% | 4.6% | |||
Sandy (West) | 5.1% | 1.8% | 8.4% | |||
Sandy (Center) V2 | 4.6% | 1.5% | 7.7% | |||
Sandy (Northeast) | 6.5% | 2.7% | 10.3% | |||
Sandy (Southeast) | 2.5% | 1.0% | 4.0% | |||
Draper | 3.5% | 1.0% | 6.0% | |||
Riverton/Bluffdale | 3.3% | 1.5% | 5.1% | |||
Herriman | 4.6% | 2.0% | 7.2% | |||
Tooele County (Other) | 8.3% | 3.9% | 12.7% | |||
Tooele Valley | 3.0% | 1.6% | 4.4% | |||
Eagle Mountain/Cedar Valley | 3.3% | 1.5% | 5.1% | |||
Lehi | 5.7% | 3.5% | 7.9% | |||
Saratoga Springs | 4.8% | 2.5% | 7.1% | |||
American Fork | 4.4% | 2.6% | 6.2% | |||
Alpine | 6.2% | 0.4% | 12.0% | |||
Pleasant Grove/Lindon | 6.8% | 4.1% | 9.5% | |||
Orem (North) | 12.6% | 7.4% | 17.8% | |||
Orem (West) | 9.1% | 6.1% | 12.1% | |||
Orem (East) | 2.7% | 1.4% | 4.0% | |||
Provo/BYU | 15.6% | 11.0% | 20.2% | |||
Provo (West City Center) | 16.2% | 11.2% | 21.2% | |||
Provo (East City Center) | 21.4% | 14.8% | 28.0% | |||
Salem City | 5.8% | 2.1% | 9.5% | |||
Spanish Fork | 6.8% | 4.8% | 8.8% | |||
Springville | 6.6% | 3.6% | 9.6% | |||
Mapleton | 3.0% | 0.0% | 6.0% | |||
Utah County (South) V2 | 7.7% | 3.8% | 11.6% | |||
Payson | 5.3% | 2.8% | 7.8% | |||
Park City | 3.9% | 1.6% | 6.2% | |||
Summit County (East) | 8.9% | 2.3% | 15.5% | |||
Wasatch County | 6.7% | 4.3% | 9.1% | * | ||
Daggett and Uintah County | 12.3% | 8.0% | 16.6% | |||
Duchesne County | 17.9% | 13.6% | 22.2% | * | ||
Nephi/Mona | 9.1% | 4.9% | 13.3% | |||
Delta/Fillmore | 17.6% | 10.1% | 25.1% | |||
Sanpete Valley | 20.3% | 12.9% | 27.7% | |||
Central (Other) | 13.6% | 9.8% | 17.4% | |||
Richfield/Monroe/Salina | 14.0% | 8.2% | 19.8% | |||
Carbon County | 18.8% | 12.2% | 25.4% | * | ||
Emery County | 18.0% | 12.5% | 23.5% | * | ||
Grand County | 18.2% | 10.8% | 25.6% | * | ||
Blanding/Monticello | 11.6% | 4.7% | 18.5% | |||
San Juan County (Other) | 35.0% | 22.9% | 47.1% | |||
St. George | 9.8% | 7.0% | 12.6% | |||
Washington Co (Other) V2 | 16.5% | 1.8% | 31.2% | |||
Washington City | 2.5% | 0.0% | 5.0% | |||
Hurricane/La Verkin | 18.2% | 9.2% | 27.2% | |||
Ivins/Santa Clara | 12.3% | 6.1% | 18.5% | |||
Cedar City | 10.9% | 6.9% | 14.9% | |||
Southwest LHD (Other) | 13.4% | 4.3% | 22.5% | |||
State of Utah | 8.8% | 8.4% | 9.2% | |||
U.S. | 16.7% | 16.5% | 16.9% |
Data Notes
Confidence intervals are 90%. [[br]] *Small areas that are also counties use the ACS county estimate.[[br]]Data Sources
- U.S. Bureau of the Census
- American Community Survey
More Resources and Links
Additional indicator data by state and county may be found on these websites:- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER database, a system for disseminating public health data and information.
- United States Census Bureau data dashboard.
- Utah Healthy Places Index, evidence-based and peer-reviewed tool, supports efforts to prioritize equitable community investments, develop critical programs and policies across the state, and much more.
- County Health Rankings
- Kaiser Family Foundation's State Health Facts
Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.
Page Content Updated On 01/09/2024,
Published on 07/25/2024