Alabama
Basic Statistics
Alabama has a population of 5,024,279, of which 78% of the population is aged 18+ (U.S. Census, 2021)
37 of Alabama's 67 counties lie within the Appalachian Region
Alabama is home to the southernmost county in Appalachia—Macon County
Alabama is the 6th most impoverished state in the U.S., 18% of residents living at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level
Nearly 1 out of every 6 adults in Alabama has not graduated from high school
Literacy in Alabama
23.9% of Alabama adults read below a 3rd Grade level
36.7% of Alabama adults read between a 3rd and 8th Grade level
39.4% of Alabama adults are proficient in reading texts above an 8th Grade level
Numeracy in Alabama
37.4% of Alabama adults struggle to perform math problems that require more than 1 step
32.5% of Alabama adults struggle to perform math problems that require more than 3 steps
30.1% of Alabama adults are proficient in math taught above an 8th Grade level
Literacy by County
In Alabama's 37 Appalachian counties, 2 out of every 3 adults read below an 8th Grade level
Nearly 1 in 5 adults has not graduated from high school
Nearly 1 in 3 residents lives below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
Black Appalachians are the majority demographic in the two counties with the lowest levels of reading ability (Hale and Macon Counties)
Numeracy by County
In Alabama's 37 Appalachian counties, 3 out of every 4 adults struggle to perform basic math
Nearly 1 in 6 Appalachian residents relies on SNAP for nutrition assistance
Nearly 1 in 5 Appalachian residents lives in extreme poverty
1 in 10 Appalachian residents lacks health insurance
Alabama Adult Education Resources
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