Appendix C: Poverty Data Table 3.E1 presents weighted average
poverty thresholds for families in the United States for
selected years 1959–2005. Table 3.E2 presents year-end data on
the number and percentage of people in poverty in the United
States for 1959–2004. Tables 3.E3 and 3.E6 present more detailed
data on people and families in poverty in the United States
during 2004; Table 3.E4 presents similar data for March 2005.
(Both poverty thresholds and poverty population data are issued
by the U.S. Census Bureau.) Table 3.E8 presents poverty
guidelines by family size for the contiguous United States,
Alaska, and Hawaii for 1965–2006. (Poverty guidelines are issued
by the Department of Health and Human Services.) Poverty
thresholds are used primarily for statistical purposes—to
produce statistics on the number of Americans in poverty.
Poverty guidelines are used for administrative purposes—for
example, to determine whether a person or family is financially
eligible for assistance or services under certain fe