The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s latest KIDS COUNT Data Book—which tracks national and state data on children’s economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors—shows uneven progress. As of 2023, seven of the 16 indicators had improved since 2019, but six had worsened.
Here are some of the report’s key findings, with additional insights from Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs at the Casey Foundation, about their implications for child well-being.
In 2023, 16% of children in the U.S. lived in poverty
The economic indicators of child well-being showed little improvement in 2023. While down slightly from 17% in 2019, the child poverty rate was unchanged from 2022 at 16%—or nearly 11.5 million children. One in four (25%) children had parents without secure employment, though down from 26% in 2019. And the percentage of 16-to-19-year-olds who were neither in school nor working remained above pre-pandemic levels.
Boissiere noted that significant factors behind the improvement in the child poverty rate includes strong parental employment and the expanded Child Tax Credit. “This shows there are proven conditions and policies that lift children and families out of poverty—good jobs with family-sustaining wages and a strong safety net to fill in gaps,” she said. “Importantly, these conditions and policies help our children thrive not just in their youth but over their lives, which yields significant positive results for our economy and our nation’s strength.”
3 of 4 educational indicators have worsened since 2019
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to disrupt the educational well-being of children. In 2023, preschool participation hadn’t yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Among children whose education was interrupted in 2020, 70% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading in 2024, up from 66% in 2019. And 73% of eighth graders were not proficient in math, a significant increase from 67%.
“The failure to provide an adequate and enriching education is setting back millions of young people and could cost the country trillions of dollars in lost economic activity,” said Boissiere. “For example, we know that STEM jobs make up a significant and growing portion of the workforce, and these jobs require strong math and science skills that too many children are not acquiring.”
To address these gaps, she suggested, “we have to prioritize programs and policies that close, not widen, these gaps, including programs that provide additional academic assistance for struggling students, increase the number of math teachers, fix chronic absenteeism, and address pandemic learning loss, which is still hurting our students.”
More children have insurance, but other health indicators worsened
While the percentage of children without insurance improved, from 6% in 2019 to 5% in 2023, the other health indicators of child well-being worsened: Teen deaths jumped from 25 to 29 per 100,000; the obesity rate remained unchanged, at 31%; and low-weight births ticked up slightly.
“Our data shows when children have access to essential resources like quality health care, education, and nutrition, not only do they thrive, but our communities and economies are stronger,” said Boissiere. This data can be used “to make informed decisions that prioritize children’s well-being and build a brighter future for everyone,” she noted, including support for strong prenatal care for mothers and access to mental health care for youth in schools and communities.
Fewer children lived in high-poverty areas
Only in the area of family and community did all four indicators improve or hold steady. The share of children living in high-poverty areas fell from 10% in 2014-2018 to 8% in 2019-2023. And despite the pandemic disrupting education, the share of children with a head of household with no high school diploma and the teen birth rate continued to decline steadily.
Geographic and racial/ethnic disparities are entrenched but also uneven
Geographic disparities in child well-being persist, with states in the South and Southwest—including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia—lagging overall. Child well-being within each state, however, can vary: For example, Mississippi ranks very low overall and in health, economic well-being, and family and community, it ranks 16th in education. New York, meanwhile, ranks high in health and education but 46th in economic well-being.
The data also shows that American Indian/Alaska Native children fared worse than the national average on all indicators except low birth weight. Black (20%), American Indian/Alaska Native (20%), and Latinx (11%) children lived in high-poverty areas, compared with the 8% average, and the number of deaths per 100,000 among Black children and youth rose nearly 30% between 2019 and 2023. At the same time, Black children are above the national average on preschool enrollment and having a household head with a high school diploma.
Prioritizing child well-being—together
“Nonprofit and philanthropy leaders are facing increased pressure and are having to make hard decisions on grantmaking, fundraising, and programs,” Boissiere said. “However, we believe [the sector plays] a vital role in helping communities support their young people—and must continue to do so.” She added that the KIDS COUNT Data Book illustrates the opportunity to work alongside business, government, and local communities to achieve what’s best for kids. “We hope policy makers, advocates, and nonprofit, community, and philanthropy leaders use this data to identify challenges, highlight successes, and develop approaches that ensure all children have the opportunities and support they need to thrive.”
Photo credit: LightFieldStudios via Getty Images
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