One in five children in Scotland living in poverty despite recent improvements

Child poverty is falling in Scotland – but one in five children still live below the breadline.

Government data confirms 21 per cent of children in Scotland are living in poverty.

The figure – published on the day that five of Scotland’s parties launch their election campaigns – covers 2022-25 and marks a slight drop from 25 per cent in the period from 2020-23.

It is also below the figure for the UK as a whole which stands at 27 per cent for 2024-25.

The change follows the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment, which campaigners say is working to alleviate need.

However, they are calling for further action to drive down hardship.

Legislation passed in 2017 requires Scotland to reduce child poverty levels to less than 10 per cent by 2030.

John Dickie, director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPag) in Scotland, commented: “These official statistics are a welcome confirmation that Scottish Government policies, especially the Scottish Child Payment, have been working to reduce and prevent child poverty. But they are also a stark reminder of how much more is needed to meet the child poverty targets set by all Scotland's parties when they unanimously passed the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act in 2017.

 “One in five of our children are still locked in poverty and there is a very real risk progress will stall.

“It is now vital that all Scotland's political parties set out how they will ensure that child poverty falls each and every year the next parliament sits.”

The statistics follow changes in the calculation of Scottish and UK figures, with data from the Department of Work and Pensions used to achieve greater accuracy.

Last year the department said 4.5million children were living in poverty across the UK. Under the new methodology, this year’s figure is 4m.

The overall poverty level for all age groups in Scotland is now 17 per cent, down from 18 per cent and below the UK rate of 20 per cent.

Chris Birt, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s associate director for Scotland, commented: “On the first day of the election campaign proper, politicians of all stripes need to stop and reflect upon the shocking levels of poverty in the communities they seek to represent. 

“With almost a million people, including more than 200,000 children, living in poverty across Scotland, it is no wonder that people are feeling overlooked and ignored by those who seek to represent them. 

“The next Scottish Parliament must step up to this challenge and focus on the things that people care about, such as driving down child poverty in Scotland. 

“Each party needs to commit to meeting the child poverty reduction targets and set out the changes that will do so.   

“They need to deliver on those commitments to create a better future for all of our children, which will also improve our economy and public services.”