UK Poverty Statistics — 14.3 Million People in Poverty
Approximately 14.3 million people in the UK live in relative poverty — including 4.3 million children. Watch poverty figures in real time from DWP and JRF data.
14.4 million people in the UK were living in relative poverty in 2023/24, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Households Below Average Income survey.
4.3 million children were living in relative poverty in the UK in 2023/24 — a child poverty rate of approximately 30%.
Approximately 4 in 10 people in poverty are in working households, a phenomenon known as in-work poverty that has grown significantly since 2010.
About These Statistics
Approximately 14.3 million people in the UK live in relative poverty — defined as having a household income below 60% of the median — according to DWP Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistics. This represents approximately 22% of the population. Of these, approximately 4.3 million are children, 8.1 million are working-age adults, and 1.9 million are pensioners.
Child poverty is a particular focus of policy concern. The UK child poverty rate of approximately 29% (after housing costs) means approximately 4.3 million children are growing up in poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's annual UK Poverty report has highlighted the role of the two-child benefit limit, the benefit cap and inadequate housing benefit in driving child poverty.
In-work poverty — where people in employment still have insufficient income — affects approximately 8 million people, accounting for the majority of working-age poverty. Rising housing costs, stagnant wages in lower-paid sectors and insufficient hours are key drivers. The expansion of low-paid, insecure work through zero-hours contracts and gig economy employment has contributed to the growth of in-work poverty.
Food bank usage has reached record levels as an indicator of acute financial hardship. The Trussell Trust distributed over 3 million food parcels in 2023/24, with approximately 60% going to households with children. Food bank use has increased approximately 2,500% since 2010, driven by benefit delays, inadequate benefit levels and the cost of living crisis.
Destitution — the most severe form of poverty, where people cannot afford the basics of food, shelter and clothing — affects approximately 3.8 million people in the UK including approximately 1 million children, according to JRF research. Destitution has increased sharply since 2019, driven by benefit system inadequacies and the cost of living crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
How many people are in poverty in the UK?
14.4 million people in the UK were living in relative poverty in 2023/24 — equivalent to 22% of the population — according to the DWP Households Below Average Income (HBAI) survey.
How many children are in poverty in the UK?
4.3 million children were living in relative poverty in the UK in 2023/24 — approximately 30% of all children. Around 1.7 million children were in absolute poverty after housing costs, according to DWP statistics.
How many people live in poverty in the UK?
Approximately 14.3 million people in the UK live in relative poverty (below 60% of median income) according to DWP Households Below Average Income statistics — approximately 22% of the population. This includes approximately 4.3 million children, 8.1 million working-age adults and 1.9 million pensioners. Approximately 3.8 million people experience destitution — the most severe form of poverty.
What is the child poverty rate in the UK?
Approximately 4.3 million children in the UK live in poverty — approximately 29% of all children, measured after housing costs. Child poverty has been rising and is projected to increase further. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation links the rise to the two-child benefit limit, the benefit cap and rising housing costs. The Trussell Trust distributed over 3 million food parcels in 2023/24 with approximately 60% going to households with children.
What is in-work poverty?
In-work poverty refers to people who are employed but whose household income is still below the poverty line (60% of median income). Approximately 8 million people in the UK experience in-work poverty — the majority of working-age poor. It is driven by low wages, part-time and insecure work, high housing costs and insufficient benefits for working families. In-work poverty has grown significantly alongside the expansion of low-paid and gig economy work.
How many people live in poverty in the UK?
Approximately 14.4 million people in the UK live in poverty, defined as living in a household with income below 60% of the median, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's UK Poverty 2024 report. This represents around 22% of the population. Of these, approximately 3.8 million live in deep poverty — below 40% of median income. Child poverty stands at around 4.3 million children, or 30% of all children in the UK.
What is the child poverty rate in the UK?
Approximately 4.3 million children in the UK live in poverty — around 30% of all children. Child poverty has risen significantly over the past decade. Around 71% of children in poverty live in a working family, meaning parental employment alone is not sufficient to escape poverty. The two-child benefit limit, introduced in 2017, is estimated to keep around 250,000 children in poverty according to the IFS.
What is food bank usage in the UK?
The Trussell Trust distributed 3.1 million emergency food parcels in 2023/24 — the highest number ever recorded and more than double the figure five years earlier. Around 1.1 million of these went to children. Independent food banks not in the Trussell Trust network distributed millions more. Food bank usage has increased every year since 2010 and accelerated sharply during the cost of living crisis from 2022.
Which groups are most affected by poverty in the UK?
Poverty disproportionately affects certain groups. Lone parent families have a poverty rate of around 43%. Disabled people and those with long-term health conditions have a rate of around 29%. People from Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic backgrounds have poverty rates above 50%. People renting privately have a rate of around 35%. Poverty is also geographically concentrated, with the highest rates in parts of the North East, Yorkshire and inner London boroughs.
How does UK poverty compare to other countries?
Using the standard relative poverty measure (below 60% of median income), the UK's poverty rate of around 22% is higher than Germany (16%), France (15%) and the Netherlands (15%), but lower than the USA (around 18% on a comparable measure). Among OECD countries the UK ranks around mid-table. However, the UK's child poverty rate is one of the higher rates among wealthy nations, particularly when measured after housing costs.
UK Poverty Key Statistics — 2024
Source: JRF UK Poverty Report / DWP / Trussell Trust.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| People in poverty (below 60% median income) | 14.4 million |
| Children in poverty | 4.3 million |
| People in deep poverty (below 40% median) | 3.8 million |
| Trussell Trust food parcels (2023/24) | 3.1 million |
| Children receiving food parcels | 1.1 million |
| Lone parent poverty rate | 43% |
| Overall poverty rate | 22% |
Source: JRF UK Poverty 2024 / DWP Households Below Average Income