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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
Georgia Value:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older living below the poverty level
Georgia Rank:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older living below the poverty level
7.7% - 9.1%
9.2% - 9.8%
9.9% - 10.8%
10.9% - 12.2%
12.3% - 18.2%
US Value: 11.2%
Top State(s): Utah: 7.7%
Bottom State(s): Louisiana: 14.9%
Definition: Percentage of adults age 65 and older living below the poverty level
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Poverty is associated with poor health outcomes. It influences environmental exposures and health-related behaviors, increasing the risk of chronic disease and mortality. Among older adults, poverty is linked to an increased risk of disability, homelessness, and physical and cognitive decline. Many older adults live on limited incomes and modest savings, which may reduce their ability to afford basic medical care.
The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), introduced in 2011, complements the Census Bureau’s official poverty measure with metrics that adjust for government programs related to food, housing and utilities, as well as other expenses such as taxes and out-of-pocket medical costs. The SPM typically has a higher prevalence than the official poverty measure, as it captures low-income families and individuals that are not included in the official measure. Measured by the SPM, the poverty rate among older adults in the United States increased from 9.5% to 15.0% between 2020 and 2024.
Poverty is higher among:
Many federal, state and local government programs, as well as community interventions, exist to support and help reduce the number of older adults living in poverty. Some of them include:
Healthy People 2030 has a goal to reduce the proportion of people living in poverty.
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Li, Zhe, and Joseph Dalaker. Poverty Among the Population Aged 65 and Older. CRS Report R45791. Congressional Research Service, December 6, 2022. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R45791.pdf.
Lubetkin, Erica I., and Haomiao Jia. “Burden of Disease Associated with Lower Levels of Income Among US Adults Aged 65 and Older.” BMJ Open 7, no. 1 (January 2017): e013720. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013720.
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Romig, Kathleen. Social Security Lifts More People Above the Poverty Line Than Any Other Program. Report. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 25, 2026. https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/social-security-lifts-more-people-above-the-poverty-line-than-any-other-0.
Shrider, Emily A., and Christina Bijou. Poverty in the United States: 2024. Current Population Reports P60-287. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, September 2025. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/p60-287.html.
Steptoe, Andrew, and Paola Zaninotto. “Lower Socioeconomic Status and the Acceleration of Aging: An Outcome-Wide Analysis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117, no. 26 (June 30, 2020): 14911–17. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1915741117.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Worst Case Housing Needs: 2025 Report to Congress. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, July 2025. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Worst-Case-Housing-Needs-2025-Report-to-Congress.pdf.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
