Persistent Poverty in Scotland 2010-2015

Key points

The statistics in this report provide useful new information on persistent poverty in Scotland. They are taken from the Understanding Society survey and so, as is true for all statistics derived from survey data, the statistics are subject to a degree of error. This means that implied changes over the years and between UK countries may not be significant and instead be within a given error range. More information can be found in the Background Notes and Methodology section.

These statistics are currently being developed and have been published as 'Experimental Statistics: data being developed' to involve users and stakeholders in their development, and to build in quality and understanding at an early stage.

All individuals:

• Between 2011 and 2015, 8 per cent of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty before housing costs. This compares to 9 per cent in 2010 to 2014.
• After housing costs 9 per cent of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty in 2011 to 2015, the same as in the previous period.

Children:

• Before housing costs, 10 per cent of children in Scotland had been in persistent poverty between 2011 and 2015, compared to 12 per cent in the previous period.
• After housing costs, in 2011 to 2015 12 per cent of children were in persistent poverty, the same as in 2010 to 2014.

Working Age Adults:

• Between 2011 and 2015, 7 per cent of working age adults in Scotland were in persistent poverty before housing costs, the same as in 2010 to 2014.
• After housing costs 9 per cent of working age adults in Scotland were in persistent poverty in 2011 to 2015, the same as in the previous period.

Pensioners:

• 11 per cent of pensioners in Scotland were in persistent poverty before housing costs in 2011 to 2015. This compares to 10 per cent in 2010 to 2014.
• After housing costs 7 per cent of pensioners were in persistent poverty in 2011 to 2015, compared to 6 per cent in 2010 to 2014.

Scotland compared to other UK countries:

• Scotland generally had lower persistent poverty rates when compared with England, Northern Ireland and Wales, especially after housing costs.
• Before housing costs the Scottish persistent poverty rate for all individuals in 2010 - 2015 (8 per cent) was slightly lower than in England (9 per cent), Northern Ireland (11 per cent) and Wales (10 per cent).
• After housing costs the difference was greater with the Scottish persistent poverty rate (9 per cent) below that of England (12 per cent), Northern Ireland (12 per cent) and Wales (12 per cent).