Final answer:
The proportion of poor people declined sharply over the past few decades due to various factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proportion of poor people declined sharply over the past few decades due to various factors. According to Figure 15.2 from the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate in the United States fell during the 1960s, rose in the early 1980s and early 1990s, and declined again in the mid-1990s. However, the poverty rate has never been less than 10.5% of the U.S. population over the last six decades. It is important to note that the poverty rate can fluctuate depending on economic and social circumstances.