Child poverty in the UK
Around 4 million children in the UK are living in poverty – over a quarter of all children.
Poverty leaves children feeling invisible, unheard and overwhelmed. They are forced to compromise their hopes and dreams for the future. Children have the right to more.
What is child poverty?
Poverty is the lack of money and resources to fulfil basic needs. Every child deserves a fair chance at life and protection from all types of harm, including poverty. Unfortunately, this is not a reality for millions of children in the UK.
According to Article 27 of the UNCRC, every child has the right to a standard of living adequate for their physical, mental, spiritual, moral, and social development. Poverty means that children are denied this right. Poverty can also be a barrier to other rights – including the right to education, and to best possible health.
At UNICEF UK, we aim to tackle the causes of child poverty in the UK through our research, advocacy and programme work, ensuring every child has what they need to thrive.
The effects of child poverty in the UK
Child poverty in the UK can cause lasting harm to a child’s health, development and learning.
- Lack of access to nutritious food can lead to poor health as children grow.
- Not being able to afford activities or educational opportunities can limit a child’s chances to play and learn.
- Growing up with constant financial stress can harm children’s mental health and wellbeing – and is linked to increased anxiety and depression.
Our 2025 report ‘Held back from the Start’ found that 5-year-olds in England living in more deprived areas are more likely to:
- Have teeth removed because of tooth decay
- Visit A&E more often due to poorer health
- Start school without reaching a good level of development
Living costs in the UK have been rising in recent years, making it harder for families to make ends meet. This has been accompanied by a decline in government spend on children which decreased by £3.6 billion between 2018 and 2024 – mostly driven by cuts to cash transfers.
What do we do to tackle child poverty?
We campaign for change
- We advocate for changes to laws and policies affecting children in poverty.
– Such as, our Early Moments Matter campaign, which highlights how poverty and inequality impacts the lives of babies, toddlers and young children.
- We push for all children’s rights to be respected and for families to get the support they need to thrive.
– Such as, our Baby Friendly Initiative Programme, which works with UK public services to support families with infant feeding and build close, loving relationships, giving babies the best start in life.
We call for financial support for families
- We recommend that governments invest in cash benefits to boost family incomes, so they can better meet the cost of essentials.
We push for investment in key services
- We call on governments to invest in education, health and community services.
Alongside partners across the children’s sector, we successfully campaigned for the end of the harmful two-child limit on benefits. It was scrapped in April 2026. This change means that 450,000 children will no longer be living in poverty by 2029.
Find out more4 million
4 million children are living in poverty in the UK, which is around 27% of all children
51%
Over half of children in poverty in the UK live in families with a child under 5
72%
Most children in poverty live in households where at least one adult is working
How is child poverty measured?
A child is considered to be living in poverty if their household income is less than 60% of the UK average income. This is known as ‘relative poverty’. The number of children in poverty is based on government data, which also takes into account housing costs and household size.
How to help children in poverty in the UK?
You can take action by signing up to our campaigns and calling for Government action to end child poverty in the UK.
Some other ways you can get take action are:
- Volunteer with a community group or organisation
- Fundraise in your local area
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