CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has the highest percentage of households reporting no annual income in the nation, according to data released Friday.
An analysis by Visual Capitalist, a digital publisher that compiles global statistical information, found that 34% of households in West Virginia reported zero income, the highest share of any state. Using 2020 U.S. Census Bureau estimates of roughly 721,000 households statewide, that figure represents more than 250,000 households with no reported earnings.
New Mexico ranked second at 31%, followed by Maine, Arkansas and Mississippi, each at 30%. Utah recorded the lowest share of no-income households at 17%, with Washington, D.C., at 19%. Alaska, Colorado and Texas were tied at 21%.
The data highlight the extent of economic hardship in the Mountain State, where a significant portion of households rely on public assistance programs to meet basic needs. West Virginia has roughly the same number of households reporting no income as those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, though most SNAP funding is provided by the federal government.
Overall, West Virginia spends substantially more on public programs each year than it raises through state-based revenue sources, with the difference largely offset by federal assistance. How the state will address the long-term sustainability of those programs remains an open question for policymakers.
