On June 9, 2025, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2025 edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book, an annually published resource that tracks child well-being across the country. Every year, the Data Book presents national and state data from 16 indicators in four domains — economic well-being, education, health and family and community factors — and ranks the states according to how children are faring overall and by domain.
In its 36th year of publication, using data collected in 2023 the Data Book reports that New England states New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts rank first, second and third for overall child well-being; while Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico rank 48th, 49th and 50th. Indicators have improved in a number of states in the Midwest between 2022 and 2023, such as a drop in childhood poverty rates in Illinois, improved eighth grade math proficiency in Kansas, more kids with health insurance in Wisconsin and a lower teen birth rate in Michigan.
These reliable national and state-level data help leaders see where progress is happening, where greater support is needed and which strategies are making a difference. By offering both a big-picture view and a local road map, the Data Book equips policymakers, advocates and communities with the information they need to make decisions that help kids and young people thrive throughout their lives.
Since 2019, seven of the 16 key indicators have improved, six have worsened and three have not changed. Positive trends include reductions in child poverty, children living in high-poverty areas and teen births, along with increases in health insurance coverage, parental employment and education levels, and on-time high school graduation.
However, the number of teenagers disconnected from school or work has risen sharply, academic outcomes are still worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic, and, most concerning, more young people are dying. Many of these shifts reflect decades-long trends, while others highlight the resilience of kids and families after pandemic setbacks — and the success of pandemic-era policies in strengthening support for those who needed it most.
The Data Book also shows that where a child lives matters for their health and quality of life. Geographic disparities around the country have persisted for years, shaped by differences in state and local policies, economic conditions, infrastructure, resources, neighborhood characteristics and community investment. These realities are reflected not only at the state level but within communities across the country.
The Data Book includes the following findings:
● In 2023, nearly 1.2 million teenagers ages 16–19 were not in school and not working, a 5% increase since 2019.
● Academic performance worsened, with nearly three-quarters of students across the nation not proficient in basic skills. In 2024, 73% of eighth-graders were not proficient in math, a 9% increase since 2019, and 70% of fourth-graders were not proficient in reading, a 6% increase. This continues the trends identified in the 2024 Data Book, which highlighted the unprecedented learning loss during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the toll of chronic absenteeism on academic performance.
● However, high school graduation rates improved between 2018–19 and 2021–22 school years, with a 7% drop in the share of students not graduating on time.
● The birth rate among teenagers ages 15–19 dropped by 24% between 2019 and 2023.
● The number of children living in high-poverty areas fell by 28% between 2014–18 and 2019–23. However, in 2023, 16% of children — more than 11 million young people — were still living in poverty. Nearly 1 in 3 children lived in households burdened by high housing costs, reflecting significant financial pressure on families.
● In 2023, 95% of children had health insurance – an increase from 94% in 2019 and an encouraging milestone that shows what is possible with strong, coordinated policies.
● Deaths among children and teenagers increased by 18% between 2019 and 2023.
For more on the report, click here.