Mississippi
State Government
Governor
Tate Reeves (R)
State Senate
16
Democrats,
36
Republicans
State House
41
Democrats,
79
Republicans
Economic well-being - Mississippi
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.2
Minimum wage
7.3
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.4
Poverty rate
17.8%
Unemployment rate
3.9
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
9.7
Housing - Mississippi
Home foreclosure rate
1 in 14331
People experiencing homelessness
1,041.0
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing
89,700.0
Percent renters
0.3
Poverty by demographic - Mississippi
Child poverty rate
0.3
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
N/A
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
167000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
N/A
Senior poverty rate
15.8 %
Women in poverty
1,484,482
The Biloxi Sun Herald, March 7, 2012: Mississippi community colleges: The myth of the mid-point
"Business leaders have repeatedly stated that in today's economy jobs are available, but mostly for those adequately trained in the increasingly technical skills necessary to conduct the tasks required of the new work force. In many circles the bachelor's degree is becoming the new minimum, and even the quality of those degrees is coming under scrutiny. In Mississippi, over 20 percent of the population, or approximately 600,000 citizens, live below the poverty line."
The Clarion-Ledger, December 19, 2011: Nearly 13,000 Miss. kids without permanent place to live
"With an estimated count at 12,929, homeless children in Mississippi outnumber the populations of 9 out of 10 of the state's towns and cities.Still, the number has dropped from a peak in 2008 of nearly 20,000."
The Clarion-Ledger, November 7, 2011: New plan to offer loan relief to some students in Mississippi
"Discretionary income refers to the difference between a borrower's family income and 150 percent of the poverty level for that family size."
Mobile Register, October 9, 2011: State eyes $50M for preschools
"'The grant could make a big difference in Mississippi, where about 33 percent of children live in poverty, Grace said. That's a higher percentage than any other state. 'This is about children, and that's very clear in this proposal,' said Grace, director of early childhood development for Children's Defense Fund."