<P> Poverty is a state of deprivation, lacking the usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions . The most common measure of poverty in the U.S. is the "poverty threshold" set by the U.S. government . This measure recognizes poverty as a lack of those goods and services commonly taken for granted by members of mainstream society . The official threshold is adjusted for inflation using the consumer price index . </P> <P> Most Americans will spend at least one year below the poverty line at some point between ages 25 and 75 . Poverty rates are persistently higher in rural and inner city parts of the country as compared to suburban areas . </P> <P> In 2015, 13.5% (43.1 million) of Americans lived in poverty . Starting in the 1930s, relative poverty rates have consistently exceeded those of other wealthy nations . The lowest poverty rates are found in New Hampshire, Vermont, Minnesota and Nebraska, which have between 8.7% and 9.1% of their population living in poverty . </P> <P> In 2009 the number of people who were in poverty was approaching 1960s levels that led to the national War on Poverty . In 2011 extreme poverty in the United States, meaning households living on less than $2 per day before government benefits, was double 1996 levels at 1.5 million households, including 2.8 million children . </P>

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