poverty line

American  

noun

1. a minimum income level used as an official standard for determining the proportion of a population living in poverty.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poverty line

A slide into poverty, pre-dating Tinubu, has continued for millions, with more than 60 percent of Nigerians now living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, up from 40 percent in 2019.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

One in four Maysville residents is living below the poverty line, and the median household income is about $39,000—less than half the national figure and nearly 40% below the state’s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Yet the island nation remains heavily dependent on international aid, with a large majority of its population living below the poverty line.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

Grandparent-headed households living below the poverty line total 17%, compared to 11% of older adults living without young relatives, according to the U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026

Having stumbled upon a tolerable career, for the first time in my life I was actually living above the poverty line.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer