The latest statistics indicate rising poverty and income inequality in Scotland in recent years.
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The incomes of low-income households fell further behind those of middle and high income households, pushing more people into poverty, and increasing income inequality further.
The proportion and number of the overall population in poverty increased in recent years. This follows a relatively stable decade, with some fluctuations year on year.
Over the three-year period 2015-18, one in five people in Scotland, 20 percent, or 1.03 million people each year, were in relative poverty after housing costs. This shows a slight increase compared to 2014-17 (19 percent, 1 million people).
Over the four-year period 2013-2017, 11 percent of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. This compares to 10 percent in 2012-2016.
Trends in child poverty are more complex to assess. The latest estimates suggest a slow increase in relative child poverty, whereas absolute poverty remained stable. The combined low income and material deprivation rate for children as well as persistent child poverty both fluctuated in recent years and showed no clear trend.
In 2015-18, 24 percent of children in Scotland, 240,000 children each year, were living in relative poverty after housing costs, the same proportion but a larger number than in the previous period (24 percent, 230,000 children).
Of those children in relative poverty, almost two thirds (65 percent) were living in a household where at least one adult was in paid employment. This proportion had previously shown a steep rising trend since 2007-10 which slowed in 2015-18.
Single-year estimates of child poverty are required for reporting as part of the Child Poverty Act. These all show an increase in child poverty compared to last year’s single-year estimates.
This confirms the rising trend in relative child poverty. Absolute child poverty appears to be fairly stable, while further data will be required to clarify any longer term trends in persistent child poverty and children in combined low income and material deprivation.
Pensioner poverty and pensioner material deprivation present a mixed picture as well. Relative poverty for pensioners had been stable at a lower level than other age groups for many years, but started to rise in recent years. Pensioner material deprivation on the other hand appears to remain stable.
In 2015-18, 18 percent of pensioners in Scotland, or 150,000 pensioners each year, were living in relative poverty after housing costs. This compares to 17 percent in 2014-17.
The proportion of pensioners in material deprivation was six percent in 2015-18, the same as in 2014-2017. ■