This report presents social and economic characteristics of the population below the poverty level in 1985 based on the March 1986 Current Population Survey (CPS). The poverty definition used here is that adopted for official Government use by the Office of Management and Budget and consists of a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition. Families or individuals with income below their appropriate threshold are classified as below the poverty level. The poverty thresholds are updated every year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. For example, the average poverty threshold for a family of four was $10,989 in 1985 and $10,609 in 1984. These thresholds are based on money income only and do not include the value of noncash benefits such as employer-provided health insurance, food stamps or Medicaid. For further discussion, see the section entitled "Collection and Limitations of Poverty Data."

The data in the report consist of cross classifications of poverty status by such characteristics as age, race, sex, family relationship, educational attainment, work experience, and type of income received. Although the primary focus of these data is on the United States as a whole, some tables are also shown by region and type of residence. In the text, the terms "poverty population," "poor," and "below the poverty level" are used interchangeably, as are the terms "nonpoor" and "above the poverty level." Characteristics such as age and marital status are as of the survey date (e.g., March 1986), while income, poverty, and work experience data refer to the whole previous calendar year (e.g., 1985). In the report the reference year cited refers to the "income" year.