Child poverty statistics: FOI release

Information requested

Information relating to the estimated number of children lifted out of poverty who are now classed as adults and no longer counted as children.

Response

A Scottish Government report published in February 2024 estimated that Scottish Government policies will keep 100,000 children out of relative in 2024-25, with the relative child poverty rate 10 percentage points lower than it would have been without these policies in place. The report can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/child-poverty-cumulative-impact-assessment-update/.

The modelling is based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS comprises a cross-sectional sample (a selection of households at a point in time) and is designed to be representative of the population for a given financial year. It does not track a given set of households or individuals over time. 

In this case, the figure of 100,000 children represents the difference between the estimated number of children living in relative poverty in 2024-25 with a selection of Scottish Government policies in place, and the estimated number of children living in relative poverty in 2024-25 without those policies in place.

The figure therefore pertains to the whole of 2024-25 and is not affected by demographic changes, such as children becoming adults or new children being born.

The report cited above updated modelling that was originally completed for the second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan in March 2022. A detailed explanation of the methodology can be found in the original modelling report: https://www.gov.scot/publications/annex-4-cumulative-impact-assessment/.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.