Persistent Poverty in Scotland 2010-2016

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.

Some estimates from previous years have been improved and will therefore differ between publications. The latest publication provides the best 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 2012 and 2016, 8% of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty before housing costs, the same as in 2011-15.
• After housing costs, 8% of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty in 2012-16. This compares to 10% in the previous period.

Children

• Before housing costs, 9% of children in Scotland were in persistent poverty between 2012 and 2016, compared to 10% in the previous period.
• After housing costs, in 2012-16 10% of children were in persistent poverty, compared to 14% in the previous period.

Working-age adults

• Between 2012 and 2016, 7% of working-age adults in Scotland were in persistent poverty before housing costs, the same as in 2011-15.
• After housing costs, 7% of working-age adults in Scotland were in persistent poverty in 2012-16, compared to 8% in the previous period.

Pensioners:

• 11% of pensioners in Scotland were in persistent poverty before housing costs in 2012-16, the same as in 2011-15.
• After housing costs, 8% of pensioners were in persistent poverty in 2012-16, also the same as in 2011-15.

Scotland compared to other UK countries

• Scotland generally had lower persistent poverty rates when compared with England, Northern Ireland and Wales. However, persistent poverty rates for pensioners were higher in Scotland.
• Before housing costs, the Scottish persistent poverty rate for all individuals in 2011– 2016 (8%) was slightly lower than in England (9%), Northern Ireland (11%) and Wales (10%).
• After housing costs, the difference was greater with the Scottish persistent poverty rate (8%) below that of England (12%), Northern Ireland (11%) and Wales (13%).