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) 2021/22

Relative Poverty (Provisional Estimates)

• • • Current: 23.6% (27,178 children estimated) of children under the age of 19 were estimated to be living in relative poverty  (NE: 24.7%; England: 19.3%)
      • The proportion of children living in relative poverty in both the county and the North East has remained higher than the levels seen across
      • In the financial year 2021/22 an estimated 23.6% of children under the age of 19 were living in relative poverty in County Durham, an increase of 39.1% in the estimated number of children in relative poverty since 2014/15. Across the North East the figure was slightly higher at 24.7% while nationally (England) the figure increased to 19.3%.
      • This is an increase from 17.2% in 2014/15, with the number of children in living in relative poverty rising from an estimated 19,500 (aged children under 19) to 27,200, an increase of 39.1%.
      • Across the North East the number of children aged 0-19 in relative poverty increased by 44.2%, while across England the figure increased by 30.1%.

Absolute Poverty (Provisional Estimates

• • • Current: 19.6% (22,551 children) of children under the age of 19 were estimated to be living in absolute poverty (NE: 20.5%; England: 14.9%)
      • The proportion of children living in absolute poverty in both the county and the north east has remained higher than the levels seen across England.
      • In the financial year 2021/22 an estimated 19.6% of children under the age of 19 were living in absolute poverty in County Durham, an increase of 7.6% in the estimated number of children in absolute poverty. Across the North East the figure was slightly higher at 20.5% while nationally (England) the figure fell slightly to 14.9%.
      • This is an increase from 18.4% in 2014/15, with the number of children in living in absolute poverty rising from an estimated 21,000 (aged children under 19) to around 22,600, an increase of 7.6%.
      • Across the North East the number of children in absolute poverty increased by 11.1%, while across England the figure increased by 0.5%.

• By Geography (Children aged 0 to 19)

This new measure of child poverty also allows for analysis at a local, sub-county level.  The following provides an overview of the data for four sub-county geographies: Lower Super Output Area (LSOA), Electoral Ward, Area Action Partnership area (AAP) and Family First Areas (FFAs).

Further information on some of the local geographies in County Durham is available on the Geography Descriptions page.

Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs)

The LSOA geography was developed for the decennial Census by the Office for National Statistics.  Across County Durham there are 324 LSOAs and across England there are 32,844 LSOAs.

Relative Poverty

• • 163 LSOAs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 23.6%,
  • 212 LSOAs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the England average of 19.3%,
  • 54.1% of the children living in the Coundon Grange LSOA were living in relative poverty – the highest proportion out of all 324 LSOAs.

Absolute Poverty

• 162 LSOAs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 19.6%,
• 228 LSOAs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the England average of 14.9%,
• 46.4% of the children living in the Leanside LSOA were living in absolute poverty – the highest proportion out of all 324 LSOAs.

Electoral Ward

Relative Poverty

There are 63 electoral wards covering County Durham – see Durham County Council – Wards.

• 35 wards have a higher proportion of children living in relative poverty than the county average of 23.6%,
• 48 wards have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 19.3%
• 38.4% of the children living in the Shildon and Dene Valley ward were living in relative poverty – the highest proportion out of all 63 wards.

Absolute Poverty

There are 63 electoral wards covering County Durham – see Durham County Council – Wards.

• 35 wards have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 19.6%,
• 52 wards have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 14.9%
• 32.1% of the children living in the Shildon and Dene Valley ward were living in absolute poverty – the highest proportion out of all 63 wards.

Area Action Partnerships

Relative Poverty

There are 14 AAPs covering County Durham – see Durham County Council – AAPs.

• 7 AAPs have a higher proportion of children living in relative poverty than the county average of 23.6%,
• 11 AAPs have a higher proportion of children living in relative poverty than the England average of 19.3%
• 31.9% of the children living in the Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP were living in relative poverty – the highest proportion out of all 14 AAPs.

Absolute Poverty

There are 14 AAPs covering County Durham – see Durham County Council – AAPs.

• 7 AAPs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 19.6%,
• 13 AAPs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 14.9%
• 26.5% of the children living in the Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP were living in absolute poverty – the highest proportion out of all 14 AAPs.

Family First Areas

Relative Poverty

There are 14 FFAs covering County Durham.

• 10 FFAs have a higher proportion of children living in relative poverty than the county average of 23.6%,
• 13 FFAs have a higher proportion of children living in relative poverty than the county average of 19.3%
• 32.2% of the children living in the Stanley FFA were living in relative poverty – the highest proportion out of all 14 FFAs.

Absolute Poverty

There are 14 FFAs covering County Durham.

• 9 FFAs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 19.6%,
• 13 FFAs have a higher proportion of children living in absolute poverty than the county average of 14.9%
• 26.6% of the children living in the Stanley FFA were living in absolute poverty – the highest proportion out of all 14 FFAs.

Definitions and Links

Links

• Free School Meals
• Children in Low Income Families – Local Measure (DWP & HMRC)
• Index of Deprivation 2019 (MHCLG)

Definitions