Nursery World - 300,000 more children living in absolute poverty, reveal Government figures

The number of children in poverty has grown for the second year in a row with 300,000 more children living in absolute poverty at the end of last year, compared to the previous 12 months.

More children are now in poverty than in than the last 12 months, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

The latest Household below average income statistics, published today, show 400,000 more children are living in absolute poverty compared to 2020/21.

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), the rise in absolute poverty is the joint highest increase in the statistic for 40 years (since 1982) and is the same increase that was seen following the global financial crisis (between 2010/22 and 2011/12).

Absolute income poverty is where households have less than 60 per cent of the median income in 2010/11, uprated by inflation.

The data also shows food insecurity has risen dramatically, increasing from 4.7 million people (7 per cent) in 2021/22 to 7.2 million (11 per cent) in 2022/23.

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