States With the Most Underprivileged Children: WalletHub Study
- According to an evaluation published on August 24, 2026, by WalletHub, Louisiana ranks as the third state with the highest share of underprivileged children in the United States.
- Louisiana placed fourth nationwide for socio-economic welfare in the WalletHub study.
- In the health category, Louisiana ranked sixth overall, driven in part by a high infant mortality rate that placed fourth in the country.
According to an evaluation published on August 24, 2026, by WalletHub, Louisiana ranks as the third state with the highest share of underprivileged children in the United States. The study analyzed states across critical indicators of child well-being, including poverty, food insecurity, and child maltreatment, to determine which regions provide stronger support for vulnerable youth.
Socio-Economic Welfare and Poverty Rates
Louisiana placed fourth nationwide for socio-economic welfare in the WalletHub study. More than 25% of children in the state live below the poverty line, representing the second-highest share nationwide, according to the report. The state also recorded the highest share of low-income households without a working adult. Furthermore, WalletHub reported that Louisiana holds the third-highest share of households where parents lack secure employment, and ranks second for the percentage of children living in households with below-poverty income.
Health, Education, and Family Structure Indicators
In the health category, Louisiana ranked sixth overall, driven in part by a high infant mortality rate that placed fourth in the country. The state also recorded the fourth-highest child death rate, according to WalletHub’s findings. Educational indicators placed the state fifth from the bottom, with WalletHub noting the eighth-lowest school system quality nationwide. Family stability metrics showed that Louisiana has the second-highest percentage of children living in single-parent families. Additionally, the state has the sixth-highest percentage of children living with grandparents where no parents are present.
Food Insecurity and National Rankings
Child hunger remains a significant challenge across the state. WalletHub ranked Louisiana third for its child food-insecurity rate, and second for overall food insecurity among children. Across the broader national comparison, WalletHub’s list placed Mississippi, West Virginia, and Louisiana as the three states with the most underprivileged children. They were followed by New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia in the upper tier of the ranking.