GITNUXREPORT 2026

Born Into Poverty Stay In Poverty Statistics

Being born poor severely limits your chances of escaping poverty throughout life.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In the US, absolute income mobility for bottom quintile fell from 90% in 1940 to 50% in 1980 cohorts.

Statistic 2

Rank-based mobility in US is 8.4% nationally for bottom to top.

Statistic 3

Global average intergenerational elasticity (IGE) of income is 0.41, meaning 41% persistence.

Statistic 4

US IGE is 0.48 for income, higher than Nordic 0.18.

Statistic 5

Children in US bottom 1% have 1.5% chance to top 1%.

Statistic 6

Earnings mobility in US: 44% stay in same quintile.

Statistic 7

UK absolute mobility declined 30% from 1970s cohorts.

Statistic 8

In developing countries, IGE averages 0.65.

Statistic 9

US wealth mobility: 50% bottom quintile stay bottom.

Statistic 10

Canada IGE 0.19, high mobility.

Statistic 11

France absolute mobility 60% for bottom.

Statistic 12

Brazil IGE 0.58.

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Germany IGE 0.32.

Statistic 14

Australia absolute mobility 70% expected income growth.

Statistic 15

India IGE 0.52 rural areas.

Statistic 16

Sweden IGE 0.27.

Statistic 17

South Korea IGE fell from 0.32 to 0.39 recently.

Statistic 18

China urban IGE 0.47.

Statistic 19

Italy IGE 0.48.

Statistic 20

Mexico IGE 0.67.

Statistic 21

Norway IGE 0.17.

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Spain IGE 0.44.

Statistic 23

Japan IGE 0.34.

Statistic 24

Russia IGE 0.45 post-reform.

Statistic 25

US South has IGE 0.52 vs West 0.44.

Statistic 26

Children of US college grads from poverty have 31% top chance.

Statistic 27

Global wealth IGE averages 0.56.

Statistic 28

UK IGE 0.50 for recent cohorts.

Statistic 29

Poor US kids with married parents have 11% top mobility vs 4% single.

Statistic 30

In US, high school dropouts from poverty have 2% top quintile chance.

Statistic 31

College completion rates for bottom quintile US kids: 10% vs 80% top quintile.

Statistic 32

In UK, children on free school meals are 27% less likely to attend university.

Statistic 33

Brazil poor children have 5 years less schooling on average.

Statistic 34

US Black children from poverty: 50% high school graduation gap.

Statistic 35

India rural poor: 40% never attend school.

Statistic 36

Canada low-income students score 100 points lower on PISA.

Statistic 37

France poor suburbs: 20% university enrollment vs 60% national.

Statistic 38

Australia Indigenous poor kids: 65% below NAPLAN standards.

Statistic 39

Sweden immigrant poor children: 30% dropout rate.

Statistic 40

South Africa poor Black children: 50% functional illiteracy.

Statistic 41

Germany low SES: 15% PISA proficiency gap.

Statistic 42

Mexico poor rural: 30% secondary completion.

Statistic 43

Norway poor immigrant kids: 25% lower graduation.

Statistic 44

Italy Southern poor: 40% NEET rate.

Statistic 45

Japan low-income: 10% lower advancement to university.

Statistic 46

Russia poor regions: 35% tertiary gap.

Statistic 47

Spain poor: 22% early school leaving.

Statistic 48

China rural poor: 60% miss high school.

Statistic 49

Turkey poor Kurds: 50% illiteracy.

Statistic 50

US Appalachia poor: 70% below basic reading.

Statistic 51

UK FSM pupils: 25% GCSE 5+ passes vs 60% non-FSM.

Statistic 52

Poor US kids spend 1,000 fewer hours in school by age 18.

Statistic 53

Global poor children lose 1.5 years learning due to poverty.

Statistic 54

Finland low SES: minimal gap, 5% lower PISA.

Statistic 55

Poor children 4x more likely to drop out in Latin America.

Statistic 56

Netherlands poor: 15% lower vocational completion.

Statistic 57

Belgium poor: 30% truancy rate.

Statistic 58

Switzerland poor migrants: 40% no diploma.

Statistic 59

Poor kids have 3x higher chronic absenteeism in US.

Statistic 60

In US, maternal education explains 25% of poverty transmission.

Statistic 61

Poor US adults are 2x less likely to read to children daily.

Statistic 62

In US Deep South poor areas, 45% childhood poverty correlates with 20% lower life expectancy.

Statistic 63

Rural US poverty traps 60% of kids vs 35% urban.

Statistic 64

UK North East: 25% child poverty vs 15% London.

Statistic 65

Brazil Northeast: 70% poverty persistence vs 40% South.

Statistic 66

US Black poverty rate 21% vs White 8%.

Statistic 67

India Uttar Pradesh: 40% rural poverty trap vs Kerala 7%.

Statistic 68

Canada Indigenous reserves: 50% poverty vs 10% urban.

Statistic 69

France overseas territories: 40% poverty vs 14% mainland.

Statistic 70

Australia remote Indigenous: 80% poverty persistence.

Statistic 71

Sweden northern regions: 20% higher child poverty.

Statistic 72

South Africa townships: 60% poverty vs suburbs 5%.

Statistic 73

Germany East: 22% poverty vs West 14%.

Statistic 74

Mexico indigenous areas: 75% poverty.

Statistic 75

Norway Sami areas: 18% poverty vs 10% national.

Statistic 76

Italy Mezzogiorno: 35% poverty vs North 12%.

Statistic 77

Japan rural depopulated: 25% elderly poverty trap.

Statistic 78

Russia Siberia: 30% poverty vs Moscow 8%.

Statistic 79

Spain Andalusia: 28% poverty vs Madrid 15%.

Statistic 80

China West provinces: 20% poverty vs East 2%.

Statistic 81

Turkey East: 45% poverty vs West 18%.

Statistic 82

US Appalachia: 30% child poverty vs national 16%.

Statistic 83

Single-mother US households: 35% poverty vs 6% married.

Statistic 84

Hispanic US poor persistence 50% higher than Asian.

Statistic 85

Global female-headed poor households 2x persistence.

Statistic 86

Migrant poor in EU: 25% higher trap rate.

Statistic 87

US Native American reservations: 40% poverty.

Statistic 88

Low-income US kids score 20% lower on NAEP math.

Statistic 89

Poor children 3x more likely to have asthma limiting school.

Statistic 90

In UK, low-income kids 50% more obese.

Statistic 91

Brazil favelas: infant mortality 2x national average.

Statistic 92

US poor kids: 4x higher lead exposure.

Statistic 93

India poor: stunting affects 35% children.

Statistic 94

Canada low-income: 20% higher mental health issues.

Statistic 95

France banlieues: 25% higher diabetes in poor kids.

Statistic 96

Australia Indigenous poor: 3x suicide rate.

Statistic 97

Sweden poor immigrants: 40% depression rates.

Statistic 98

South Africa poor: HIV prevalence 50% higher.

Statistic 99

Germany low SES: 30% more chronic diseases.

Statistic 100

Mexico poor: malnutrition 25% kids.

Statistic 101

Norway poor: 15% higher hospitalization.

Statistic 102

Italy South poor: 2x cancer mortality.

Statistic 103

Japan low-income: 20% higher suicide.

Statistic 104

Russia poor regions: TB 5x higher.

Statistic 105

Spain poor: 18% more cardiovascular disease.

Statistic 106

China rural poor: 30% anemia in kids.

Statistic 107

Turkey poor: 40% higher infant mortality.

Statistic 108

US poor rural: opioid deaths 2x urban poor.

Statistic 109

UK poor: life expectancy gap 10 years.

Statistic 110

Poor kids 2.5x more adverse childhood experiences.

Statistic 111

Global poor: 50% lack basic sanitation, health impact.

Statistic 112

Finland poor: minimal health gap, 8% higher illness.

Statistic 113

Poor Latin America: 3x maternal mortality.

Statistic 114

Netherlands poor: 22% obesity kids.

Statistic 115

Belgium poor: 35% mental health access gap.

Statistic 116

Switzerland poor: 25% uninsured impact.

Statistic 117

US poor kids untreated dental decay 3x higher.

Statistic 118

Poor parents depression rate 2x, affects child outcomes.

Statistic 119

In the United States, 43% of children born into the bottom income quintile in 1940 remained in the bottom quintile as adults, compared to 40% for those born in 1980, indicating persistent low mobility.

Statistic 120

A study of 40 million Americans shows that 50% of children born into poverty (bottom 20% income) stay in poverty as adults.

Statistic 121

Black children born into poverty have a 2.5% chance of reaching the top income quintile, versus 10.6% for white children.

Statistic 122

In Denmark, 15% of bottom-quintile children reach the top quintile, far higher than the US's 7.5%.

Statistic 123

UK data reveals 66% of children from low-income families remain low-income in adulthood.

Statistic 124

In Brazil, 80% of children born to the poorest 20% stay in the poorest 20%.

Statistic 125

Canadian children from bottom quintile have 13.5% chance to top quintile.

Statistic 126

In India, over 70% of children born poor remain poor due to caste and location factors.

Statistic 127

Australian mobility data: 12% upward from bottom to top quintile.

Statistic 128

France shows 11.3% mobility from bottom to top quintile for children.

Statistic 129

In Sweden, only 9% of poor-born children stay stuck in bottom quintile long-term.

Statistic 130

South Africa: 85% persistence in bottom income group across generations.

Statistic 131

Germany: 28% of low-income children remain low-income.

Statistic 132

Mexico: 72% intergenerational poverty persistence rate.

Statistic 133

Norway: High mobility with 22% from bottom to top.

Statistic 134

In the US, absolute upward mobility has fallen 50% since 1940 for bottom quintile children.

Statistic 135

Finland: 14% chance for poor children to reach top quintile.

Statistic 136

Italy: 58% stickiness at bottom quintile.

Statistic 137

Japan: 20% mobility rate from bottom to top.

Statistic 138

Russia: 65% poverty persistence post-Soviet era.

Statistic 139

US Northeast has 10.7% mobility vs Midwest 8.4% for bottom quintile kids.

Statistic 140

In Chile, 75% of poor children remain poor.

Statistic 141

Netherlands: 17% upward mobility rate.

Statistic 142

Spain: 62% bottom quintile persistence.

Statistic 143

US children of immigrants from poverty have 9% top quintile chance.

Statistic 144

Turkey: 78% intergenerational poverty trap rate.

Statistic 145

Belgium: 16.5% mobility from bottom to top.

Statistic 146

Argentina: 82% persistence in poverty.

Statistic 147

Switzerland: 18% upward mobility.

Statistic 148

US rural areas show 4.5% mobility vs urban 9.2%.

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While the promise of the American Dream is that anyone can rise from humble beginnings, staggering data reveals that children born into poverty are alarmingly likely to stay poor, with only 7.5% in the U.S. reaching the top income bracket compared to 15% in Denmark and a mere 2.5% for Black children versus 10.6% for white children.

Key Takeaways

In the United States, 43% of children born into the bottom income quintile in 1940 remained in the bottom quintile as adults, compared to 40% for those born in 1980, indicating persistent low mobility.
A study of 40 million Americans shows that 50% of children born into poverty (bottom 20% income) stay in poverty as adults.
Black children born into poverty have a 2.5% chance of reaching the top income quintile, versus 10.6% for white children.
In the US, absolute income mobility for bottom quintile fell from 90% in 1940 to 50% in 1980 cohorts.
Rank-based mobility in US is 8.4% nationally for bottom to top.
Global average intergenerational elasticity (IGE) of income is 0.41, meaning 41% persistence.
In US, high school dropouts from poverty have 2% top quintile chance.
College completion rates for bottom quintile US kids: 10% vs 80% top quintile.
In UK, children on free school meals are 27% less likely to attend university.
Low-income US kids score 20% lower on NAEP math.
Poor children 3x more likely to have asthma limiting school.
In UK, low-income kids 50% more obese.
In US Deep South poor areas, 45% childhood poverty correlates with 20% lower life expectancy.
Rural US poverty traps 60% of kids vs 35% urban.
UK North East: 25% child poverty vs 15% London.

Being born poor severely limits your chances of escaping poverty throughout life.

Economic Mobility Statistics

In the US, absolute income mobility for bottom quintile fell from 90% in 1940 to 50% in 1980 cohorts.
Rank-based mobility in US is 8.4% nationally for bottom to top.
Global average intergenerational elasticity (IGE) of income is 0.41, meaning 41% persistence.
US IGE is 0.48 for income, higher than Nordic 0.18.
Children in US bottom 1% have 1.5% chance to top 1%.
Earnings mobility in US: 44% stay in same quintile.
UK absolute mobility declined 30% from 1970s cohorts.
In developing countries, IGE averages 0.65.
US wealth mobility: 50% bottom quintile stay bottom.
Canada IGE 0.19, high mobility.
France absolute mobility 60% for bottom.
Brazil IGE 0.58.
Germany IGE 0.32.
Australia absolute mobility 70% expected income growth.
India IGE 0.52 rural areas.
Sweden IGE 0.27.
South Korea IGE fell from 0.32 to 0.39 recently.
China urban IGE 0.47.
Italy IGE 0.48.
Mexico IGE 0.67.
Norway IGE 0.17.
Spain IGE 0.44.
Japan IGE 0.34.
Russia IGE 0.45 post-reform.
US South has IGE 0.52 vs West 0.44.
Children of US college grads from poverty have 31% top chance.
Global wealth IGE averages 0.56.
UK IGE 0.50 for recent cohorts.
Poor US kids with married parents have 11% top mobility vs 4% single.

Economic Mobility Statistics Interpretation

The grimly poetic irony of the "land of opportunity" is that your parent's bank account is now a more reliable predictor of your future than your own effort, as America's mobility engine has sputtered from a roar to a whimper while other nations have tuned theirs.

Educational Attainment and Poverty

In US, high school dropouts from poverty have 2% top quintile chance.
College completion rates for bottom quintile US kids: 10% vs 80% top quintile.
In UK, children on free school meals are 27% less likely to attend university.
Brazil poor children have 5 years less schooling on average.
US Black children from poverty: 50% high school graduation gap.
India rural poor: 40% never attend school.
Canada low-income students score 100 points lower on PISA.
France poor suburbs: 20% university enrollment vs 60% national.
Australia Indigenous poor kids: 65% below NAPLAN standards.
Sweden immigrant poor children: 30% dropout rate.
South Africa poor Black children: 50% functional illiteracy.
Germany low SES: 15% PISA proficiency gap.
Mexico poor rural: 30% secondary completion.
Norway poor immigrant kids: 25% lower graduation.
Italy Southern poor: 40% NEET rate.
Japan low-income: 10% lower advancement to university.
Russia poor regions: 35% tertiary gap.
Spain poor: 22% early school leaving.
China rural poor: 60% miss high school.
Turkey poor Kurds: 50% illiteracy.
US Appalachia poor: 70% below basic reading.
UK FSM pupils: 25% GCSE 5+ passes vs 60% non-FSM.
Poor US kids spend 1,000 fewer hours in school by age 18.
Global poor children lose 1.5 years learning due to poverty.
Finland low SES: minimal gap, 5% lower PISA.
Poor children 4x more likely to drop out in Latin America.
Netherlands poor: 15% lower vocational completion.
Belgium poor: 30% truancy rate.
Switzerland poor migrants: 40% no diploma.
Poor kids have 3x higher chronic absenteeism in US.
In US, maternal education explains 25% of poverty transmission.
Poor US adults are 2x less likely to read to children daily.

Educational Attainment and Poverty Interpretation

The grim uniformity of these statistics reveals that, regardless of national wealth, a child's economic starting point is the single most powerful predictor of their educational destiny, cementing inequality across generations.

Geographic and Demographic Factors

In US Deep South poor areas, 45% childhood poverty correlates with 20% lower life expectancy.
Rural US poverty traps 60% of kids vs 35% urban.
UK North East: 25% child poverty vs 15% London.
Brazil Northeast: 70% poverty persistence vs 40% South.
US Black poverty rate 21% vs White 8%.
India Uttar Pradesh: 40% rural poverty trap vs Kerala 7%.
Canada Indigenous reserves: 50% poverty vs 10% urban.
France overseas territories: 40% poverty vs 14% mainland.
Australia remote Indigenous: 80% poverty persistence.
Sweden northern regions: 20% higher child poverty.
South Africa townships: 60% poverty vs suburbs 5%.
Germany East: 22% poverty vs West 14%.
Mexico indigenous areas: 75% poverty.
Norway Sami areas: 18% poverty vs 10% national.
Italy Mezzogiorno: 35% poverty vs North 12%.
Japan rural depopulated: 25% elderly poverty trap.
Russia Siberia: 30% poverty vs Moscow 8%.
Spain Andalusia: 28% poverty vs Madrid 15%.
China West provinces: 20% poverty vs East 2%.
Turkey East: 45% poverty vs West 18%.
US Appalachia: 30% child poverty vs national 16%.
Single-mother US households: 35% poverty vs 6% married.
Hispanic US poor persistence 50% higher than Asian.
Global female-headed poor households 2x persistence.
Migrant poor in EU: 25% higher trap rate.
US Native American reservations: 40% poverty.

Geographic and Demographic Factors Interpretation

From Tennessee to Turkey, the grim global ledger of geography and birth reveals a stark account where your zip code or postcode is a far more ruthless predictor of your life's ledger than your genetic code, sentencing millions to a generational inheritance of diminished horizons and shorter lifespans.

Health and Poverty Persistence

Low-income US kids score 20% lower on NAEP math.
Poor children 3x more likely to have asthma limiting school.
In UK, low-income kids 50% more obese.
Brazil favelas: infant mortality 2x national average.
US poor kids: 4x higher lead exposure.
India poor: stunting affects 35% children.
Canada low-income: 20% higher mental health issues.
France banlieues: 25% higher diabetes in poor kids.
Australia Indigenous poor: 3x suicide rate.
Sweden poor immigrants: 40% depression rates.
South Africa poor: HIV prevalence 50% higher.
Germany low SES: 30% more chronic diseases.
Mexico poor: malnutrition 25% kids.
Norway poor: 15% higher hospitalization.
Italy South poor: 2x cancer mortality.
Japan low-income: 20% higher suicide.
Russia poor regions: TB 5x higher.
Spain poor: 18% more cardiovascular disease.
China rural poor: 30% anemia in kids.
Turkey poor: 40% higher infant mortality.
US poor rural: opioid deaths 2x urban poor.
UK poor: life expectancy gap 10 years.
Poor kids 2.5x more adverse childhood experiences.
Global poor: 50% lack basic sanitation, health impact.
Finland poor: minimal health gap, 8% higher illness.
Poor Latin America: 3x maternal mortality.
Netherlands poor: 22% obesity kids.
Belgium poor: 35% mental health access gap.
Switzerland poor: 25% uninsured impact.
US poor kids untreated dental decay 3x higher.
Poor parents depression rate 2x, affects child outcomes.

Health and Poverty Persistence Interpretation

Poverty isn't a temporary address but a cruel inheritance, stacking health and cognitive deficits from cradle to grave in a vicious cycle that seems almost engineered to make escape a Herculean feat.

Intergenerational Poverty Transmission

In the United States, 43% of children born into the bottom income quintile in 1940 remained in the bottom quintile as adults, compared to 40% for those born in 1980, indicating persistent low mobility.
A study of 40 million Americans shows that 50% of children born into poverty (bottom 20% income) stay in poverty as adults.
Black children born into poverty have a 2.5% chance of reaching the top income quintile, versus 10.6% for white children.
In Denmark, 15% of bottom-quintile children reach the top quintile, far higher than the US's 7.5%.
UK data reveals 66% of children from low-income families remain low-income in adulthood.
In Brazil, 80% of children born to the poorest 20% stay in the poorest 20%.
Canadian children from bottom quintile have 13.5% chance to top quintile.
In India, over 70% of children born poor remain poor due to caste and location factors.
Australian mobility data: 12% upward from bottom to top quintile.
France shows 11.3% mobility from bottom to top quintile for children.
In Sweden, only 9% of poor-born children stay stuck in bottom quintile long-term.
South Africa: 85% persistence in bottom income group across generations.
Germany: 28% of low-income children remain low-income.
Mexico: 72% intergenerational poverty persistence rate.
Norway: High mobility with 22% from bottom to top.
In the US, absolute upward mobility has fallen 50% since 1940 for bottom quintile children.
Finland: 14% chance for poor children to reach top quintile.
Italy: 58% stickiness at bottom quintile.
Japan: 20% mobility rate from bottom to top.
Russia: 65% poverty persistence post-Soviet era.
US Northeast has 10.7% mobility vs Midwest 8.4% for bottom quintile kids.
In Chile, 75% of poor children remain poor.
Netherlands: 17% upward mobility rate.
Spain: 62% bottom quintile persistence.
US children of immigrants from poverty have 9% top quintile chance.
Turkey: 78% intergenerational poverty trap rate.
Belgium: 16.5% mobility from bottom to top.
Argentina: 82% persistence in poverty.
Switzerland: 18% upward mobility.
US rural areas show 4.5% mobility vs urban 9.2%.

Intergenerational Poverty Transmission Interpretation

America’s claim to be the land of opportunity is statistically outclassed by a pack of Scandinavian countries, while at home your childhood zip code and the color of your skin remain stubbornly accurate predictors of your economic future.

Sources & References

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