ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – New Mexico has moved up slightly in a national ranking measuring child well-being, according to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The report ranks New Mexico 49th overall, up from 50th last year. The annual data book compares all 50 states across four key areas: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.
The latest data, reflecting conditions in 2024, show improvements in economic well-being and health across the state. Child poverty has declined to 22 percent, the lowest rate in more than 16 years. The state also saw one of the largest gains in economic well-being since 2019, with significant increases tied to household financial stability.
Health indicators remained steady, including the percentage of children without insurance, which held at 6 percent.
Despite those gains, the report highlights continued challenges. New Mexico ranks last in education and family and community measures, with concerns including concentrated child poverty and ongoing struggles in academic outcomes.
The report also introduced a new scoring system this year. New Mexico received an overall score of 281, well below the national average of 547, indicating both progress and persistent gaps.
Advocates say the findings show that while improvements are being made, more work remains to strengthen outcomes for children and families across the state.
The full report is available through the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Book.
