Table 4 shows the levels of overall poverty and child poverty by race from 1980 to 2006.44 Both blacks and Hispanics have levels of overall poverty that are two to three times higher than those of whites. Asians have poverty levels that are generally comparable to those of the white population. Variation in poverty rates are also evident over time with the percent of persons living in poverty being lower in 2000 than in the two prior decades for all racial groups. And for all groups, except Hispanics, the poverty rate in 2006 is higher than it was in 2000. However, at all points in time, poverty varies markedly by race. Table 4 also shows that child poverty rates, for all racial groups, are higher than overall poverty rates and child poverty is also strongly patterned by race. Some limitations of the available data must be noted. The overall data for Asians mask considerable heterogeneity within the Asian population with some Asian groups (Hmong, Laotian and Cambodian) having levels of income that are comparable to those of the African American and American Indian populations.10 American Indians and Pacific Islanders also have higher levels of poverty compared to whites.
