The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book is here, with the latest rankings and national- and state-level data on child and young adult well-being.
This year’s trends paint a complex picture: steady progress in some areas, setbacks in others and persistent opportunities to do better for kids and their families.
Key insights from this year’s report:
- New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts rank first, second and third for overall child well-being; Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico rank 48th, 49th and 50th.
- Several Midwestern states saw improvements, including lower child poverty in Illinois and improved math scores in Kansas.
- Academic performance declined with nearly 75% of fourth and eighth graders not proficient in basic skills.
- More young people are disconnected with 1.2 million teens not in school or working in 2023.
- Child and teen deaths increased 16% from 2019 to 2023.
Every state has room to grow and strengths on which to build. Download the Data Book to learn how your state is supporting kids and families.
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