Final answer:
The US poverty rate peaked at 15.9% in 2011 and dropped to 10.5% by 2019. Rates are higher among Hispanics, African Americans, and females as compared to other demographics. Poverty thresholds vary, and sometimes rates are based on international measures, such as living on less than $1.90 per day.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percent of the population living under that official federal poverty line in the US varies depending on the year, but in recent years, it has seen some fluctuation. In 2011, the poverty rate was at a peak of 15.9%, before reducing to 14.5% in 2013. Moreover, in 2019, the poverty rate dropped to 10.5%. When comparing poverty rates across different groups, it is observed that rates are higher for females, Hispanics, and African Americans compared to Whites, the elderly, the well-educated, and male-headed households. Poverty thresholds differ, and sometimes the poverty rate is reported as a percentage of the population living on less than a specific threshold, such as $1.90 per day, which is regarded as the International Poverty Line.
Based on the information provided, the U.S. percentage of 12.3 was mentioned without specifying the year.