IN, KY Among Top 15 States With Most Underprivileged Children

WalletHub studied a range of data sets including children in households with below-poverty income, child food-insecurity rate and share of maltreated children. 

(undated) - August is Child Support Awareness Month, and the personal-finance website WalletHub decided to dive into the statistics surrounding underprivileged children in the United States.  

In this study, both Indiana and Kentucky were among the top 15 states with the most underprivileged children. While Ohio did not make the top 15, they were not far behind with a ranking of 16. 

During the coronavirus pandemic, these underprivileged children are struggling more than ever due to a lack of access to healthcare resources, daily meals and the technology needed to complete schoolwork. Even in the richest nation in the world, it is shown that not every child is so privileged. With over 29 percent of child poverty, the United States has obtained a rank of 7 in economically developed countries.  

To find where the most underprivileged children in the United State are, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 27 key indicators of neediness. Data sets range from the share of children in households with below-poverty income to the child food-insecurity rate to the share of maltreated children. 

KENTUCKY

Kentucky ranked 11 out of the 50 states by getting a number 3 rank in 'Socio-Economic Welfare', 9 in 'Health' and 43 in 'Education'.

Additionally, the Bluegrass received 1st in the category of highest percent of maltreated children 

INDIANA

Indiana grabbed the 14 rank with a rank of 20 in 'Socio-Economic Welfare', 7 in 'Health' and 23 in 'Education'.

Other highlights throughout the study show that the Hoosier state ranked 1st with percent of children in foster care and 9th for the percent of maltreated children. 

OHIO

Ohio obtained an overall rank of 16 by ranking 25 in 'Socio-Economic Welfare' and 15 for both 'Health' and 'Education'. 

For more information on WalletHub's study, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-underprivileged-children/5403/.