As of 2008, 13.2% of the population--39.8 million people--lived in poverty. More on Income and the U.S. Population
Gender: In 2008, women earned 77.1% of the median annual earnings of men. More on Income and Gender
Age: In 2008, the highest poverty rate among adults (18.4%) occurred among those age 18-24. More on Income and Age
Race and Ethnicity: In 2008, the median household income of blacks and Hispanics was two thirds that of non-Hispanic whites. More on Income and Race-Ethnicity
Education: In 2008, among adults age 25 and older, the poverty rate was 26.0% for those without a high school education, compared with 3.8% for those with 4 or more years of college. More on Income and Education
Household Characteristics: In 2007, the median net worth of families with children headed by a single adult was $24,800, compared with $141,100 when headed by a couple. More on Income and Household Characteristics
Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance in the United States: 2008.