The greatest percentage of people living below the poverty line in the United States are found in which region?

• A. American Northeast
• B. American South
• C. American West
• D. Midwest

Answer: (B)

Regional poverty rates show how common it is for people to live below the poverty line in different parts of the country. The American South tends to have the highest share, or percentage, of residents in poverty compared with the Northeast, Midwest, and West. This pattern arises from a mix of economic factors: lower average incomes, higher rural poverty, slower wage growth in many Southern states, and long-standing structural challenges that affect employment opportunities and living standards. Because the question asks for the highest percentage, the South is the best answer, since its poverty rate is typically higher even though other regions might have large total numbers of people in poverty due to population size.