Poverty rates in Oklahoma saw a very slight decrease during 2018, though the state is still above the national average, according to data estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Overall poverty in Oklahoma went from 15.8% in 2017 to 15.5% in 2018, the data shows, which is formally called "Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates." The national poverty rate was 13.1% in 2018.

But for those under the age of 18 in Oklahoma, the poverty rate slightly increased from 21.3% to 21.4%.

“The constant stress that comes with living in scarcity can overload the brain, making every decision more difficult and leading to reduced educational outcomes and chronic health problems,” according to a September post from the Oklahoma Policy Institute. “Understanding poverty in our state is a crucial part of tackling so many of Oklahoma’s challenges.”