Children in Poverty

Children in low income families: local area statistics

These experimental Official Statistics on the number (and proportion) of children living in low income families across Great Britain by local area were first released in the March 2021.

Interactive Map: Children in Relative Poverty by sub-county area

Local Children in Poverty Dashboard

To maximise this dashboard to full screen or download, please click on the 3 dots in the top right of the dashboard.

Key Messages (Children aged 0 to 19) 2022/23

Relative Poverty (Provisional Estimates)

Current: 19.3% (22,199 children estimated) of children under the age of 19 were estimated to be living in relative poverty  (NE: 20.5%; England: 19.5%)

• • • • The current release estimates that the proportion of children in relative poverty in the county has, for the first time, fallen beneath the England proportion, while across the North East the proportion remains above both areas.
      • In the financial year 2022/23 an estimated 19.3% of children under the age of 19 were living in relative poverty in County Durham.  Across the North East the figure was higher at 20.5% while nationally (England) the figure was 19.5%.
      • This is an increase from 18.4% in 2014/15, with the number of children in living in relative poverty rising from an estimated 19,500 (aged children under 19) to around 22,200, an increase of 13.6%.
      • Across the North East the number of children in relative poverty increased by 19%, while across England the figure increased by 31%.

Absolute Poverty (Provisional Estimates)

Current: 15% (17,279 children) of children under the age of 19 were estimated to be living in absolute poverty (NE: 16.1%; England: 15.4%)

• • • • The current release estimates that the proportion of children in absolute poverty in the county has, for the first time, fallen beneath the England proportion, while across the North East the proportion remains above both areas.
      • In the financial year 2022/23 an estimated 15% of children under the age of 19 were living in absolute poverty in County Durham.  Across the North East the figure was slightly higher at 16.1% while nationally (England) the figure was 15.4%.
      • This is a fall from 18.4% in 2014/15, with the number of children in living in absolute poverty falling from an estimated 21,000 (aged children under 19) to around 17,300, a fall of 17.6%.
      • Across the North East the number of children in absolute poverty fell by 12.7%, while across England the figure increased by 3.1%.

Definitions and Links

Links

• Free School Meals
• Children in Low Income Families – Local Measure (DWP & HMRC)

Definitions