A new study puts a number on how many Georgiahouseholds have little or no net worth.
According to SmartAsset's latest analysis, an estimated 11.6% of Georgia households had zero or negative net worth in 2024.
SmartAsset defines zero or negative net worth as having debts that equal or exceed the value of a household's assets. The study uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation.
How Georgia compares
Georgia's estimated rate of 11.6% was statistically similar to the national rate of 11.3%, according to SmartAsset.
The study also estimates that 12.7% of Georgia households had zero or negative net worth in the previous year.
Because the estimates are based on survey data, SmartAsset cautions that year-to-year changes should be viewed
as approximate. The study uses 90% confidence intervals to account for sampling variability.
For Georgia, SmartAsset gives a 90% confidence interval of 9.0% to 14.2% for the 11.6% estimate.
What zero or negative net worth means
Net worth is calculated by comparing what a household owns with what it owes.
Under SmartAsset’s definition, a household has zero or negative net worth when its debts are equal to or greater than its assets.
That means the 11.6% figure does not describe household income or whether someone is currently able to pay their bills. It specifically measures the relationship between assets and debts.
Where Georgia stands nationally
SmartAsset's analysis found that three states had shares of households with zero or negative net worth that were significantly higher than the U.S. rate: Oklahoma at 20.1%, Mississippi at 17.6% and New York at 15.6%.
Six states had significantly lower shares than the national rate, including Hawaii at 4.1%, the lowest estimate in the study.
Georgia’s 11.6% estimate was classified as statistically similar to the national rate.
The numbers come from 2024
Although SmartAsset released the study in September 2026, the Georgia estimate is based on 2024 household data, the most recent period available for the analysis.
The Census Bureau released the 2024 SIPP data on July 15, 2026. SmartAsset also analyzed 2023 data for comparison.
Overall, the study shows that about 1 in 9 Georgia households were estimated to have zero or negative net worth in 2024, a share SmartAsset says was statistically similar to the national rate.
For the full report, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/where-americans-are-broke.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: How many Georgians are broke? Study shows how many have zero net worth
