Tackling child poverty priority families overview

The priority family types identified continue to be at highest risk of child poverty, whichever measure of poverty is used

24% of all children in Scotland are in relative poverty. Children in the priority groups are more likely than average to be in relative poverty – 38% children in lone parent families, 43% children in minority ethnic families, 27% children in families with a disabled person,  and 38% children in families with three or more children are in relative poverty. 9% of children who are in none of the priority groups are in relative poverty.

21% of all children in Scotland are in absolute poverty. Children in the priority groups are more likely than average to be in absolute poverty – 33% children in lone parent families, 38% children in minority ethnic families, 23% children in families with a disabled person, and 35% children in families with three or more children are in absolute poverty. 7% of children who are in none of the priority groups are in absolute poverty.

10% of all children in Scotland have low income and material deprivation combined. Children in the priority groups are more likely than average to be in this situation – 23% children in lone parent families, 13% children in minority ethnic families, 18% children in families with a disabled person, and 18% children in families with three or more children have a low income and material deprivation.

14% of all children in Scotland are in persistent poverty. Sample size is too small for robust estimates of the other groups for persistent poverty.

Source: Relative, absolute and CMD: Family Resources Survey 2020-23. Persistent poverty: Understanding Society Survey 2018-22.