Why Iowa Collects 68.4% of Child Support While Mississippi Collects 49.3%

PlainChildSupport's enforcement data shows a 19.1 percentage-point gap between the best-performing and worst-performing US states on child support collection rate, a structural divergence that compounds to billions in unpaid support.

Research period:

Research Question

Among the 51 US jurisdictions, which achieve the highest and lowest child support collection rates, and how does enforcement performance correlate with formula type and state income levels?

Methodology

We queried PlainChildSupport's states table for the enforcement_collection_rate column, populated from FY2023 OCSE preliminary data (ACF Form 157 reporting). We ranked all 51 jurisdictions and reported the top 5 and bottom 5. We cross-referenced formula_type and median_household_income columns to test whether the high-performing states cluster around any specific model or economic profile.

Findings

Iowa leads at 68.4% - the top of a 19.1-point spread

PlainChildSupport's states table lists Iowa's enforcement_collection_rate at 68.4% in the enforcement dataset, the highest value across 51 jurisdictions.US Office of Child Support Enforcement, FY2023 Preliminary Data Report This rate exceeds North Dakota's enforcement_collection_rate by 0.9 points. Minnesota's enforcement_collection_rate follows at 67.2% in the states table. Idaho records 66.8% in enforcement_collection_rate. Wisconsin places fifth with 66.5%.PlainChildSupport enforcement dataset, 2023

The states table enforcement_collections_m column captures millions collected for Iowa alongside enforcement_cases totals. enforcement_orders_pct tracks the fraction of cases with orders in Iowa's row. enforcement_paternity_pct logs paternity establishment rates for the state. North Dakota's row in the states table mirrors this structure with its 67.5% enforcement_collection_rate value. Minnesota's states table entry includes 67.2% in enforcement_collection_rate next to enforcement_collections_m data.

  • Iowa: 68.4% enforcement_collection_rate in states table
  • North Dakota: 67.5% enforcement_collection_rate
  • Minnesota: 67.2% enforcement_collection_rate
  • Idaho: 66.8% enforcement_collection_rate
  • Wisconsin: 66.5% enforcement_collection_rate

Iowa's position creates a 19.1 percentage point spread to the lowest enforcement_collection_rate in the enforcement dataset.US Office of Child Support Enforcement, FY2023 Preliminary Data Report Developers join the states table enforcement_collection_rate column to formula types from the National Conference of State Legislatures data. Iowa child support guidelines detail Income Shares implementation in the state's row. The states table enforcement_cases column supports volume-based analysis for Iowa at the leading recovery ratio.

enforcement_collections_m in Iowa's states table row quantifies dollars recovered at the leading rate. enforcement_orders_pct provides order coverage metrics for the jurisdiction. North Dakota's 67.5% enforcement_collection_rate pairs with its enforcement_paternity_pct value in the states table. Idaho's states table entry holds 66.8% in enforcement_collection_rate with linked enforcement_cases data. View full profiles via all 51 state enforcement profiles.

The bottom five: Mississippi at 49.3%, New Mexico, Louisiana, DC, Georgia

Mississippi anchors the states table with 49.3% in enforcement_collection_rate, the minimum across 51 jurisdictions in the enforcement dataset.US Office of Child Support Enforcement, FY2023 Preliminary Data Report New Mexico ranks 50th at 51.2% enforcement_collection_rate in its states table row. Louisiana holds 49th place with 52.8% in enforcement_collection_rate. District of Columbia records 53.5% as 48th. Georgia lists 54.3% enforcement_collection_rate in 47th position.

  • Mississippi: 49.3% enforcement_collection_rate in states table
  • New Mexico: 51.2% enforcement_collection_rate
  • Louisiana: 52.8% enforcement_collection_rate
  • District of Columbia: 53.5% enforcement_collection_rate
  • Georgia: 54.3% enforcement_collection_rate

The states table enforcement_collections_m column shows Mississippi's recovered millions at the trailing-jurisdiction rate next to enforcement_cases volumes. enforcement_orders_pct in Mississippi's row measures active orders fraction. enforcement_paternity_pct tracks paternity metrics for the state. New Mexico's states table entry pairs 51.2% enforcement_collection_rate with enforcement_collections_m data. Louisiana's 52.8% enforcement_collection_rate appears alongside enforcement_orders_pct.PlainChildSupport enforcement dataset, 2023

District of Columbia's states table row holds 53.5% in enforcement_collection_rate with enforcement_cases totals. Georgia's enforcement_paternity_pct joins its 54.3% enforcement_collection_rate value. Mississippi child support guidelines outline Percentage of Income usage at 14% base rate in the state's profile. The bottom-state recovery figure in Mississippi's states table contrasts the top spread of 19.1 points.

enforcement_collections_m quantifies shortfalls for New Mexico at 51.2% enforcement_collection_rate. Louisiana's states table enforcement_orders_pct supports order analysis at 52.8%. Developers reference enforcement_paternity_pct across bottom states like Georgia at 54.3%. Full 51 state enforcement profiles expose these states table columns for comparison.

Formula and income do not predict enforcement performance

Of top five states in enforcement_collection_rate, Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Idaho use Income Shares formula per National Conference of State Legislatures data.National Conference of State Legislatures, Child Support Guidelines Wisconsin employs Percentage of Income at 17% base rate yet achieves 66.5% enforcement_collection_rate in states table. Mississippi's bottom-tier collection ratio pairs with Percentage of Income at 14% base - the lowest in its six-state cluster.

Iowa's median household income stands at $65,429 per US Census Bureau ACS 2022 B19013.US Census Bureau, ACS 2022 B19013 Median Household Income This value trails District of Columbia's $90,842 median household income. Maryland records $90,203 median household income. New Jersey lists $89,703. Massachusetts holds $89,026 median household income. Iowa's states table top-of-fleet collection ratio succeeds despite mid-tier income.

Mississippi's states table row links its bottom-of-fleet collection ratio to Percentage of Income formula details. Wisconsin's 66.5% enforcement_collection_rate in states table uses 17% Percentage of Income base. enforcement_orders_pct across top states like North Dakota at 67.5% aids formula analysis. Income Shares in Idaho's row supports 66.8% enforcement_collection_rate without high median household income.

enforcement_paternity_pct in Minnesota's states table complements 67.2% enforcement_collection_rate under Income Shares. North Dakota child support guidelines specify Income Shares for its 67.5% performance. District of Columbia's $90,842 median household income aligns with 53.5% enforcement_collection_rate - below top performers. How to modify a child support order references states table metrics like enforcement_cases.

Georgia's 54.3% enforcement_collection_rate in states table ignores its income position. Louisiana's 52.8% enforcement_collection_rate joins enforcement_collections_m data without formula-income correlation. New Mexico at 51.2% enforcement_collection_rate follows suit in the enforcement dataset.

PlainChildSupport states table enforcement_collection_rate column reveals Iowa's leading position spans 19.1 points to Mississippi's lagging position. Top performers blend Income Shares in four states - Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, Idaho - with Wisconsin's 17% Percentage of Income at 66.5%. Mississippi deploys 14% Percentage of Income yet posts the bottom-of-fleet collection ratio. Iowa's $65,429 median household income lags District of Columbia's $90,842, Maryland's $90,203, New Jersey's $89,703, and Massachusetts's $89,026, decoupling income from enforcement success. states table columns enforcement_orders_pct, enforcement_paternity_pct, enforcement_cases, and enforcement_collections_m enable deeper queries into these patterns across 51 jurisdictions.ACF Form 157, Child Support Enforcement Program

What this analysis cannot tell us

OCSE collection rates measure total dollars collected ÷ total dollars owed on current support orders within the fiscal year. The 19.1-point spread between Iowa and Mississippi partly reflects administrative resources (IV-D caseload complexity, worker counts) and partly reflects earnings volatility of the obligor population, it is not purely a measure of enforcement vigor. The FY2023 preliminary data publication cycle means figures are subject to minor revision. Enforcement rate does not capture arrears collection, which is reported separately by OCSE.

Related data

Sources

Top 5 states by enforcement collection rate

Iowa68.4North Dakota67.5Minnesota67.2Idaho66.8Wisconsin66.5

Bottom 5 states by enforcement collection rate

Mississippi49.3New Mexico51.2Louisiana52.8District of Columbia53.5Georgia54.3

Every figure on PlainChildSupport is rendered directly from official state guidelines and federal enforcement data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on official state guidelines and federal enforcement data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.