Note: The Island Areas Censuses asked households about their income the previous year (in 2019). Nearly one-quarter (22.8%), or 19,338, of the total 84,766 people in households for whom poverty status is determined had income below the poverty level.

As of 2026, the poverty rate in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) remains a significant economic challenge, with estimates suggesting that approximately 18% to 22% of the population lives below the federal poverty line. This rate is consistently higher than the average in the mainland United States, primarily due to the high cost of imported goods, expensive utility rates, and an economy that is heavily reliant on the volatile tourism sector. Data from the World Bank and local government agencies indicates that poverty is particularly acute among female-headed households and the elderly. While the territory has seen some economic recovery following the devastating hurricanes of 2017 and the global disruptions of the early 2020s, income inequality remains a persistent issue. The "cost of living" in the USVI is often estimated to be roughly 40% higher than on the mainland, meaning that even residents who earn above the formal poverty threshold often struggle to afford basic necessities like housing and healthcare, creating a complex landscape of "working poverty" across St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.