New poverty stats show rising number of children living in poverty in the UK
Recently released UK figures show 100,000 more children are growing up in poverty since 2022/23.
That means 4.5 million children, or 31% of all children in the UK, are going without the safe and happy childhoods they deserve. Here’s what the latest data shows and what it means for children and families.
Whether a family is considered to be in poverty depends on their household income, which is measured in both ‘relative’ and ‘absolute’ terms.
What is 'relative' poverty?
Relative poverty refers to people living in households with income below 60% of the average (median) for that year. Whether you are in poverty is determined by what your income is, relative to the income of the rest of the population.
The ‘poverty line’ will therefore move as average incomes rise or fall in any given year.
What is 'absolute' poverty?
Absolute poverty refers to people living in households with income below 60% of the average (median) income as it was in 2010/11, adjusted for inflation. Under an absolute measure, the poverty line is mostly fixed to a particular point in time (in this case, 2010/11), and is only adjusted upwards in line with inflation.
In a healthy economy when living standards are rising faster than prices, absolute poverty should always fall.
Last year, we helped 551,400 families, children, and young people. With your help, we could reach more.
Both the relative and absolute poverty measures are calculated before and after housing costs are included. When discussing poverty at Action for Children, we use the relative poverty measure after housing costs. This is because it best reflects the financial resources required to participate in society as it is today.
These latest stats show that in the UK right now, 4.5 million children are living in poverty. That’s 31% of all children and an increase of 100,000 since 2022/23.
4 million children, or 28%, are growing up in material deprivation. This means their families can’t afford essentials like fruit and vegetables, a warm home, or social activities and hobbies.
31% of children
Unlike the rest of the UK, Scotland has seen a positive shift, with child poverty dropping from 24% to 23% in 2023/24. This progress is likely thanks to the significant impact of the Scottish Child Payment.
There was also an increase in poverty measured in 'absolute' terms. Between 2022/23 and 2023/24, the number of children living in absolute poverty increased from 3.6 to 3.9 million (or from 25% to 26% of children).
This is the second year in a row that absolute poverty has risen. And we know that children are also the hardest hit by poverty.
According to the new poverty stats, children are the most at risk of poverty, with three in ten children being in poverty in the UK.
It means more families than ever struggling to afford the basics. Things like food, heating, a roof over their head. We’ve seen parents going without dinner to feed their children. Children sleeping on the floor because their parents can’t afford to buy them a bed. Or going to school with holes in their shoes.
Whichever way you measure it, children fare the worst.
The UK government has announced that the two-child limit will be scrapped in full as part of its upcoming Child Poverty Strategy.
This will lift 350,000 children out of poverty overnight, and keep half a million free from poverty by the end of the decade.
Nearly half (49%) of children living in poverty are in families with more than two children.
We have been campaigning for the Labour government to remove the two-child limit and benefit cap as part of our Paying the Price campaign.
Scrapping the two-child limit will mean fewer children growing up in cold homes without enough food to eat, warm clothes to wear or a bed to sleep in.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The government has the power to tackle poverty and reduce the impact of the cost of living crisis on the most vulnerable families.
Thankfully, we have hundreds of frontline workers helping families every day. Topping up the meter, putting food on the table, offering support when they have nowhere else to turn.
We’ve been a vital lifeline for vulnerable families and young people across the UK. And with your help, we can continue to reach those who need us most.
Frequently asked questions about child poverty in the UK
How many children are living in poverty in the UK?
In 2023/24, 4.5 million children were living in poverty in the UK. That’s 31% of all children, or nearly one in three.
Has child poverty increased?
Yes. The latest figures show that 100,000 more children are growing up in poverty compared with 2022/23. This marks a continued upward trend in child poverty across the UK.
What is the difference between relative and absolute poverty?
Relative poverty measures whether a household’s income is significantly below the average income in the UK today. Absolute poverty measures whether income is below a fixed threshold, adjusted for inflation. At Action for Children, we focus on relative poverty after housing costs, as it reflects the real resources families need to participate in society.
What is material deprivation?
Material deprivation means a family cannot afford everyday essentials. This can include adequate food, heating, appropriate clothing, school items, or opportunities for children to take part in activities and social events.
Are some parts of the UK more affected than others?
Yes. Child poverty levels vary across the UK. While poverty has risen overall, Scotland has seen a small reduction in recent figures, likely linked to the Scottish Child Payment.
Last year, we helped 551,400 families, children, and young people. With your help, we could reach more.
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