Ipswich ranks in top 50 worst places for child poverty in UK as rates rise across Suffolk

Ipswich is among the worst places in the UK for rates of child poverty, new data has revealed.

Figures published by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has said the Suffolk town ranks 48th of 361 local authorities listed, with 29.3 per cent (8,170) of children under 16 in low income families for the year to April 2024, up from 7,781 (28 per cent) the year before.

Relative low income is defined here as any family claiming child benefit and at least one other household benefit, such as universal credit, tax credits or housing benefit, at any point in the financial year.

According to the data, child poverty is on the rise in all Suffolk authorities, mirroring a trend across the rest of the country.

This is despite the East of England ranking joint lowest for relative poverty, with 23 per cent, alongside Scotland, other data from the DWP shows.

East Suffolk ranked 123rd for 2023/24, with 22.4 per cent (8,704), compared to 20.4 per cent (7,980) in 2022/23.

Further down the list was Babergh, which came 214th with 17.2 per cent (2,645) of children in relative poverty, up from 16.1 per cent (2,447) the year prior.

Mid Suffolk, with 15 per cent (2,610) – 14.2 per cent (2,410) last year – and West Suffolk, with 14.9 per cent (5,014 children) up from 14.4 per cent (4,674), ranked 254th and 258th, respectively.

Other DWP data found that 31 per cent – or about 4.45 million – of children in the UK were in ‘relative poverty’ (household earnings less than 60 per cent of median income that year) to April 2024, after housing costs.

Rates have fluctuated between 27 and 31 per cent since 2001/02.

This was highest among families with three or more children, with 44 per cent of households, compared to 21 per cent for single-child households.

Broken down by demographics, children from Bangladeshi backgrounds were by far the most likely to grow up in poverty, at 65 per cent.

This was followed by Pakistani (59 per cent), anyone listed as ‘other ethnic group’ (56 per cent) and Chinese and black (both 49 per cent).

According to the data, 21 per cent of white children lived in relative poverty, the lowest on the list.

The DWP said median household income dropped two per cent between the end of the 2023 and 2024 financial years.

However, income equality was unchanged and has remained stable since 2011.

Poverty rates were highest in the West Midlands (36 per cent) and London (35 per cent) over the three years from 2021 to 2024.

Pendle, Lancashire, had the highest rate of children living in poverty, with 44.6 per cent (9,190), up from 43 per cent (8,805) in 2022/23.

This was followed by Bradford (44.2 per cent or 55,331), Oldham (42.9 per cent or 23,957) and Birmingham (41.7 per cent or 107,183).

Richmond upon Thames in London had the lowest rate (5.6 per cent or 2,213), followed closely by Elmbridge, Surrey (6.4 per cent or 1,921), and Wokingham, Berkshire (7.1 per cent 2,733).