Persistent Poverty in Scotland 2010-2017

Key points

The statistics in this report provide 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.

Some estimates from previous years have been improved and will therefore differ between publications. The latest publication provides the most accurate estimates.

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 2013 and 2017, 11% of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. This compares to 10% in 2012-16.

Children

• Between 2013 and 2017, 17% of children in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. This compares to 14% in 2012-16.
• Children have consistently had a higher risk of living in persistent poverty after housing costs than working-age adults and pensioners in Scotland.

Working-age adults

• Between 2013 and 2017, 10% of working-age adults in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. This compares to 9% in 2012-16.

Pensioners

• Between 2013 and 2017, 10% of pensioners in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. This compares to 11% in 2012-16.

Scotland compared to other UK countries

• When looking at the overall population, Scotland had lower persistent poverty rates after housing costs (11%) than England (14%) and Wales (13%), and similar levels to Northern Ireland (11%).
• The persistent child poverty rate after housing costs in Scotland (17%) was lower than in England (20%) and Wales (21%) and higher than in Northern Ireland (15%) in 2013-17. In previous periods, persistent child poverty levels in Scotland and Northern Ireland had been similar, and consistently below the English and Welsh rates.
• Persistent pensioner poverty after housing costs in Scotland and Wales (both 10%) was higher compared to Northern Ireland (7%), and lower than in England (12%).