Final answer:
The U.S. poverty line for a single person is $12,880 as of 2021. This figure is adjusted for inflation to maintain consistent buying power over time. Current statistics would be required for the percentage of Americans living below the poverty line.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poverty line in the United States is $12,880 for a single person. To put this in context, the U.S. poverty line in 2015 was $11,790 for a single individual and increased to $12,880 by 2021 due to adjustments for inflation and maintaining the same buying power. As for the percentage of Americans living below the poverty line, up-to-date statistics from a reliable source such as the U.S. Census Bureau would be necessary to provide a current figure, as this can fluctuate with economic changes and policy adjustments.
It's important to note that the U.S. poverty line is adjusted annually to account for inflation, which ensures that the threshold reflects the consistent buying power that was set with the initial Orshansky poverty line.