Map lays bare UK’s poverty crisis with HALF of kids living below breadline in hardest-hit areas – where does YOURS rank?
Map lays bare UK’s poverty crisis with HALF of kids living below breadline in hardest-hit areas – where does YOURS rank?
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A MAP has laid bare the UK's poverty crisis with half of kids living below the breadline in the hardest-hit areas. The findings, compiled by the Sun based on data released by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, shows 14.4million people - or 22% - are living in poverty.
![[Silhouette of a man and child collecting goods.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/poor-male-collect-goods-kid-967566424.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The average poverty rates in England (22%), Wales (21%) and Scotland (21%) converged at around the same level, while. poverty rates were much lower in Northern Ireland at 17%. Meanwhile, the data shows that child poverty rates in Scotland (24%) are considerably lower than those in England (30%) and Wales (29%).
In Northern Ireland, the rate is a lower but nonetheless alarming 23%. By 2029, it is estimated that almost one in three children in England will be below the breadline. “We can’t expect children to be ready for school or able to learn if they’re going without the basics", fumed JRF chief executive Paul Kissack.
“Growing up in poverty can also lead to poor health, increasing pressure on the NHS. "Child poverty will only be driven down through focused, deliberate and determined policy action. "Even very strong economic growth won’t automatically change the picture.”.
“Policy action must start with the system designed to help people meet their costs of living – social security. “At the moment that system is not only failing to do its job but, worse, actively pushing some people into deeper poverty, through cruel limits and caps.”.
