Child poverty by borough

What does this map show?

The graph uses a measure of poverty devised by HM Revenue & Customs, used to monitor poverty at a local level. It is based on tax credit and out-of-work benefit data. All children living in households receiving out-of-work benefits are considered to be in poverty in this measure. Additionally, those in households receiving tax credits whose income is still below 60% of the Before Housing Costs (BHC) median are included. This produces an estimate of 530,000 children, substantially higher than the official BHC estimate of 350,000, but lower than the After Housing Costs (AHC) estimate of 630,000.

Over half of children in Tower Hamlets are in households either receiving out-of-work benefits or tax credits insufficient to lift them out of poverty. This is five times as high as the rate in Richmond. The four boroughs with the highest level of poverty using this measure are all in the Inner East & South though two of the next four are in the Inner West. Only two boroughs in Inner London are below the London average.

The fact that these Inner West boroughs feature prominently in this measure is worth noting. These children are the ones living in households most affected by the changes in the Local Housing Allowance rules.

Comparing these figures to the rest of the country, we can see that Tower Hamlets, Islington and Hackney all have higher rates of child poverty than any other local authority in the country. Eight of the ten English local authorities with the highest rates of child poverty are in London.

Data used

HM Revenue & Customs

Indicator last updated: 21 February 2012