Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2016-19

This publication presents estimates of the percentage of people, children, working-age adults and pensioners in Scotland living in poverty, and other statistics on household income and income inequality. These estimates are used to monitor progress in reducing poverty and income inequality.


Key trends

This publication presents three-year averaged estimates of the percentage of people, children, working-age adults and pensioners in Scotland living in poverty, and other statistics on household income and income inequality. These estimates are used to monitor progress in reducing poverty, child poverty and income inequality.

Key trends

  • Poverty may have stopped rising, although further years are required to confirm this.
  • Income inequality continues to fluctuate.
  • Median household incomes continue to rise.
Relative poverty: Poverty rate no longer rising
Relative poverty: Poverty rate no longer rising

Source: Family Resources Survey

19% of people were living in relative poverty after housing costs in 2016-19. Overall, the poverty rate appears to have stopped rising.

Income inequality: Palma inequality measure fluctuating
Income inequality: Palma inequality measure fluctuating

Source: Family Resources Survey

The Palma coefficient measures income inequality. The top 10% of the population had 24% more income in 2016-19 than the bottom 40% combined.

Household income: Overall household incomes rising
Household income: Overall household incomes rising

Source: Family Resources Survey

Median income before housing costs in Scotland in 2016-19 was £517 a week, continuing the rising trend.

Contact

Email: social-justice-analysis@gov.scot

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