U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce the proportion of people living in poverty — SDOH‑01 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC), Census and DOL/BLS

Baseline: 11.8 percent of persons were living below the poverty threshold in 2018

Target: 8.0 percent

Numerator
Number of persons living below the poverty threshold.
Denominator
Number of persons.
Target-setting method
Projection
Target-setting method details
Linear trend fitted using weighted least squares and a projection at the 67 percent prediction interval.
1
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective. Using historical data points, a trend line was fitted using weighted least squares and the trend was projected into the next decade. This method was used because three or more comparable data points were available, the projected value was within the range of possible values, and a projection at the 67 percent prediction interval was selected because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline. Economic growth contributes to the reduction of poverty in the United States.

Methodology

Methodology notes

The poverty level is based on money income and does not include noncash benefits, such as food stamps. Poverty thresholds reflect family size and composition and are adjusted each year using the annual average Consumer Price Index level. In 2018, the poverty threshold for a two-parent, two-child family was $25,465.

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Retained, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 with no change in measurement.

1. Because Healthy People 2030 objectives have a desired direction (e.g., increase or decrease), the confidence level of a one-sided prediction interval can be used as an indication of how likely a target will be to achieve based on the historical data and fitted trend.