Sex, age and family status

In 2022 an estimated total of 12,800 children were in kinship care, based on data from the National Census. On July 31 2022 there were 4,226 children in formal kinship care placements, according to Looked After Children Statistics 2022-23. This indicates that around two thirds of the children in kinship care identified in the Census were in informal kinship care.

Table 1 shows that 51% of children in kinship care were male and 49% female. The most common age range for children in kinship care was 10 to 14 years (35%) and the least common age range was 0 to 4 years (14%).

When comparing children in kinship care with children in other households, a higher proportion of children in kinship care were older. 29% of those in kinship care were aged 15 to 17, compared with 17% of those in other households. Younger children were a lower proportion of those in kinship care, with 22% of those in kinship care aged 5 to 9 and 14% aged 0 to 4 compared with 28% and 25% respectively for those in other households.

Table 1 Age and Sex of Children In Kinship Care and Other Households

Children in kinship care and people in other households by age and sex.

Table 2 shows the family status of children living in kinship care. Children are categorised as not living in a family, living in a couple family or living in a lone parent family. The Census defines living in a family as a child living with at least one parent or grandparent. A child living in a household without a parent or grandparent is defined as not living in a family, even if they are living with another relative.

Children in kinship care were more likely to not be living in a family than those in other households. They were also more likely to be in a lone parent family. Approximately two thirds (66%) of children in kinship care were living in a family, suggesting that living in a household with a grandparent or a parent other than the primary caregiver is the most common. However, it is not possible to definitively state that this is the kinship carer for all those categorised as in a family as another individual within the household may be the child’s primary carer. Additionally, the child’s recorded relationships with other individuals in the household may affect the family status designation.

Table 2 Family Status of Children in Kinship Care and Other Households

Children in kinship care and other households by family status.