Tackling child poverty priority families overview
An overview of evidence on the six priority family types identified as being at higher risk of child poverty. Slide deck can be found in the supporting documents.
The priority family types identified continue to be at highest risk of child poverty, whichever measure of poverty is used
23% of all children in Scotland are in relative poverty. Children in the priority groups are more likely than average to be in relative poverty – 36% of children in lone parent families, 37% of children in minority ethnic families, 27% of children in families with a disabled person, 52% of children in families with younger mothers, 35% of children in families with a child under one, and 41% of children in families with three or more children are in relative poverty. Seven per cent of children who are in none of the priority groups are in relative poverty.
20% of all children in Scotland are in absolute poverty. Children in the priority groups are more likely than average to be in absolute poverty – 32% of children in lone parent families, 31% children in minority ethnic families, 23% children in families with a disabled person, 44% of children in families with younger mothers, 25% of children in families with a child under one, and 36% of children in families with three or more children are in absolute poverty. Six per cent of children who are in none of the priority groups are in absolute poverty.
Source: Relative, absolute and CMD: Family Resources Survey 2021-24 , except for young mothers figure which is based on 2017-24.