Child Poverty Declines as Social Support Measures Show Impact

Scotland has reduced child poverty rates, with the share of children living in poverty falling from 25% between 2020 and 2023 to 21% between 2022 and 2025.

“These official statistics are a welcome confirmation that Scottish government policies … have been working to reduce and prevent child poverty,” said John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland.

Across the wider UK, 27% of children were still living in poverty in 2024/25, highlighting Scotland’s relative progress. Updated data methods have also revised the total UK child poverty figure from 4.5 million to 4 million children. Targeted policies such as child payments have contributed to the decline, while long-term legislation aims to reduce child poverty to below 10% by 2030, reinforcing sustained efforts to improve living standards.