economy
January 29, 2026
Extreme poverty rate shoots up in UK
UK poverty deepens as more low-income households face severe hardship, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says
TL;DR
- Over 14.2 million people (more than one in five) in the UK lived in poverty in 2023/24.
- 6.8 million people experienced "very deep" hardship, the highest figure in 30 years.
- Children, renters, disabled people, and those in insecure work are disproportionately affected.
- Nearly 4.5 million children were in poverty, with rates highest in larger families.
- Approximately 3.8 million people, including one million children, faced destitution.
- Rising living costs and stagnant wages are identified as key drivers of increased poverty.
- London and the West Midlands are noted as particularly hard-hit areas.
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