Census Data Show Poverty Increased, Income Stagnated, and the Number of Uninsured Rose to a Record Level In 2003

Publication Date: August 2004

Publisher: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Keywords: Economic projections; Standard of living; Income diversity; Economic inequality

Type: Report

Abstract:

Census data released Thursday, August 26 show that the number and percentage of Americans living below the poverty line increased for the third consecutive year in 2003, and the number and percentage of people without health insurance also climbed for the third straight year, leaving 45 million Americans uninsured in 2003 — the largest number on record, with the data going back to 1987. Median household income stood at $43,318 in 2003, compared with $43,381 in 2002, not a statistically significant change.