The 2025 National KIDS COUNT®

The 2026 National KIDS COUNT® Data Book: A National Snapshot of Child Well-Being

Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation releases the KIDS COUNT® Data Book, the nation’s most comprehensive source of data on child well-being. The report compares all 50 states across 16 indicators in four domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family & community.

The 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book shows Alabama ranked 42nd nationally for overall child well-being, improving one position from the previous year. The report also introduces a new scoring system, ranging from 0 to 1,000, that provides a broader picture of how children are faring beyond state rankings alone.

What the Data Tell Us About Alabama

The 2026 Data Book reflects a mixed but generally stable picture for Alabama children.

Education remained Alabama’s strongest-performing domain, ranking 37th nationally. While many states experienced significant educational setbacks following the COVID-19 pandemic, Alabama’s indicators remained relatively stable. Ongoing investments in literacy, numeracy, early childhood education, and expanded learning opportunities continue to strengthen the state’s education infrastructure and support student success.

Alabama also saw improvements in several Family & Community indicators, including:

  • Lower teen birth rates
  • Fewer children living in concentrated poverty
  • More children living in households where at least one adult has a high school diploma

At the same time, challenges remain. The report found:

  • An increase in the percentage of children without health insurance
  • Rising housing cost burdens for families
  • Persistent barriers that continue to affect child well-being across many communities

Why This Data Matters

The KIDS COUNT® Data Book helps policymakers, educators, business leaders, advocates, and community members understand where progress is being made and where additional attention is needed. By tracking long-term trends, the Data Book serves as both a benchmark and a roadmap for improving outcomes for children.

As Alabama’s member of the KIDS COUNT® network, VOICES for Alabama’s Children uses these data to inform research, advocacy, and policy recommendations that support children and families across our state.

Explore Alabama’s Data

Visit the national KIDS COUNT® Data Center and select Alabama to create your own
maps and graphs that visualize the state’s child well-being data. While the national KIDS COUNT® Data Book compares states, VOICES publishes the Alabama Kids Count Data Book, which provides state- and county- level data to help local leaders make informed decisions. 

Coming soon… the Alabama Kids Count Data Center will enable data users to create custom reports using Alabama state- and county-level data. 

Together, these resources help illuminate the challenges and opportunities facing Alabama’s children and guide efforts to build a stronger future for every child.

Learn more about how Alabama stacked up with the rest of the nation:

A Compelling Call to Action

“The latest data on child well-being in Alabama is a compelling call to action — a clear reminder that we must continue to invest in the policies and programs that uplift all our families and build a stronger future for every child.”

Apreill Hartsfield, Alabama Kids Count Director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children

Learn more about how Alabama stacked up with the rest of the nation:

Visit the national KIDS COUNT® Data Center and select Alabama to create your own
maps and graphs that visualize the state’s child well-being data.