Women’s Poverty in the United States, 2012 - Poverty Rate Remains High, Gender Poverty Gap Persists.

The Census Bureau poverty data for 2012 show the largest number of poor people in the 50+ years that poverty has been measured, 46.5 million, with the overall poverty rate at 15%, the same as in 2011. The growth in poverty in 2012 reflects the continuing impact of the great recession that began in 2007. Poverty disproportionately affects women and children.