The Real Numbers: Half of America in Poverty -- and It's Creeping Upward The Census Bureau has reported that one out of six Americans lives in poverty. A shocking figure. But it's actually much, much worse. May 26, 2013  | The  HYPERLINK "https://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/overview/" \t "_blank" Census Bureau has reported that 15% of Americans live in poverty. A shocking figure. But it's actually much worse. Inequality is spreading like a shadowy disease through our [...]