People in low income households
Published
- 1. Navigate toMain facts and figures section
- 2. Navigate toThings you need to know section
- 3. Navigate to By ethnicity section
- 4. Navigate to By ethnicity section
- 5. Navigate to By ethnicity over time (before housing costs) section
- 6. Navigate to By ethnicity over time (before housing costs) section
- 7. Navigate to By ethnicity over time (after housing costs) section
- 8. Navigate to By ethnicity over time (after housing costs) section
- 9. Navigate to By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs) section
- 10. Navigate to By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs) section
- 11. Navigate to By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs) section
- 12. Navigate to By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs) section
- 13. Navigate toData sources section
- 14. Navigate toDownload the data section
1. Main facts and figures
Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on data collection and sample composition, 2020/21 HBAI estimates by ethnicity were not published. Please refer to the Technical Report: Assessment of COVID-19 on the HBAI statistics for FYE2021 for further information. Three-year average data is available to 2017/18-2019/20.
- between April 2008 and March 2020, people in Pakistani and Bangladeshi households were consistently the most likely out of all ethnic groups to live in low income households, before and after housing costs
- people in White British households were consistently the least likely to live in low income households
- a household is in low income if they live on less than 60% of the UK’s median income (a couple with no children would be in low income with an annual household income of up to £17,100 before housing costs and £14,800 after housing costs)
2. Things you need to know
What the data measures
The data shows the percentage of people living in households in low income in the UK.
Households are classed as being in low income if they live on less than 60% of the average (median) net disposable equivalised UK household income.
In the year ending March 2020, a household made up of a couple with no children would be in low income with an annual household income of up to £17,100 before housing costs and £14,800 after housing costs.
Household income is the total income of the household before tax, National Insurance and other deductions. It includes the value of free school meals, free TV licences and other income-based entitlements.
The data measures income before and after housing costs have been paid. Housing costs include rent or mortgage payments and insurance. These vary by region, as do ethnic minority communities.
The information relates to households of either one person or a group of people sharing cooking facilities and a living room or dining area. It must be their main or only home. Household incomes are adjusted (or ‘equivalised’) to take into account the number of adults and children who live there.
Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, so some figures may not add up to 100%.
Not included in the data
Percentages based on fewer than 100 responses are not shown. This is to protect people’s confidentiality.
The ethnic groups used in the data
The data uses the ethnic categories from the 2011 Census.
Data is aggregated for each of the Black, Mixed and Other ethnic groups, which means estimates are shown for these groups as a whole. Data is shown separately for White British and all other White people (‘White Other’ ethnic group).
Some households contain people from different ethnic backgrounds. The ethnicity assigned to the household is that of the head of the household (usually the person with the highest income). The data does not account for people of different ethnic backgrounds who live in the same household.
Methodology
Read the detailed methodology document for the data on this page.
Data for 3 years has been combined to make sure estimates are reliable. You can read more about combining multiple years of data and some of the issues involved.
Confidence intervals have not been worked out, so comparisons between ethnic groups may not be reliable.
The figures on this page are based on survey data. You can read more about:
- interpreting survey data
- how weighting is used to make survey results more representative of the whole population
In the data file
Download the data for figures for each 3-year period covered by this data analysed by ethnicity and age group.
3. By ethnicity
Ethnicity | Before Housing Costs | After Housing Costs |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
All | 17 | 22 |
Asian | 28 | 37 |
Bangladeshi | 35 | 55 |
Chinese | 25 | 30 |
Indian | 18 | 24 |
Pakistani | 41 | 47 |
Asian other | 24 | 42 |
Black | 27 | 40 |
Mixed | 19 | 32 |
White | 16 | 19 |
White British | 16 | 19 |
White other | 16 | 26 |
Other | 27 | 40 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity Summary
The data shows that:
- 22% of people in the UK lived in households with low income after housing costs were paid, compared with 17% before housing costs
- 41% of people living in Pakistani households and 35% of people living in Bangladeshi households lived in low income before housing costs – the highest percentages out of all ethnic groups
- 16% of people living in White British and White Other households had a low income before housing costs – the lowest percentage out of all ethnic groups
- 35% of people living in Bangladeshi households had a low income before housings costs, compared with 55% after housing costs – the biggest percentage difference out of all ethnic groups
4. By ethnicity
Ethnicity | Before Housing Costs | After Housing Costs |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
All | 17 | 22 |
Asian | 28 | 37 |
Bangladeshi | 35 | 55 |
Chinese | 25 | 30 |
Indian | 18 | 24 |
Pakistani | 41 | 47 |
Asian other | 24 | 42 |
Black | 27 | 40 |
Mixed | 19 | 32 |
White | 16 | 19 |
White British | 16 | 19 |
White other | 16 | 26 |
Other | 27 | 40 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity Summary
The data shows that:
- 22% of people in the UK lived in households with low income after housing costs were paid, compared with 17% before housing costs
- 41% of people living in Pakistani households and 35% of people living in Bangladeshi households lived in low income before housing costs – the highest percentages out of all ethnic groups
- 16% of people living in White British and White Other households had a low income before housing costs – the lowest percentage out of all ethnic groups
- 35% of people living in Bangladeshi households had a low income before housings costs, compared with 55% after housing costs – the biggest percentage difference out of all ethnic groups
5. By ethnicity over time (before housing costs)
Ethnicity | 2008/09 to 2010/11 | 2009/10 to 2011/12 | 2010/11 to 2012/13 | 2011/12 to 2013/14 | 2012/13 to 2014/15 | 2013/14 to 2015/16 | 2014/15 to 2016/17 | 2015/16 to 2017/18 | 2016/17 to 2018/19 | 2017/18 to 2019/20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
All | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Asian | 32 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 |
Bangladeshi | 51 | 42 | 41 | 35 | 38 | 39 | 35 | 33 | 31 | 35 |
Chinese | 21 | 26 | 32 | 31 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 25 |
Indian | 23 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Pakistani | 45 | 44 | 43 | 40 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 41 |
Asian other | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 24 |
Black | 29 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 27 |
Mixed | 21 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 19 |
White | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
White British | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
White other | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Other | 29 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 27 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity over time (before housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity over time (before housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity over time (before housing costs) Summary
The data shows that between April 2008 March 2020, before housing costs were paid:
- people in Pakistani and Bangladeshi households were more likely to live in low income than those from any other ethnic group
- people in White British and White Other households were the least likely to live in low income
- the percentage of Bangladeshi households in low income went down from 51% to 35% – the biggest decrease out of all ethnic groups, although the percentage has gone up in the latest 3-year period
6. By ethnicity over time (before housing costs)
Ethnicity | 2008/09 to 2010/11 | 2009/10 to 2011/12 | 2010/11 to 2012/13 | 2011/12 to 2013/14 | 2012/13 to 2014/15 | 2013/14 to 2015/16 | 2014/15 to 2016/17 | 2015/16 to 2017/18 | 2016/17 to 2018/19 | 2017/18 to 2019/20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
All | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Asian | 32 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 |
Bangladeshi | 51 | 42 | 41 | 35 | 38 | 39 | 35 | 33 | 31 | 35 |
Chinese | 21 | 26 | 32 | 31 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 25 |
Indian | 23 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Pakistani | 45 | 44 | 43 | 40 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 41 |
Asian other | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 24 |
Black | 29 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 27 |
Mixed | 21 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 19 |
White | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
White British | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
White other | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Other | 29 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 27 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity over time (before housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity over time (before housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity over time (before housing costs) Summary
The data shows that between April 2008 March 2020, before housing costs were paid:
- people in Pakistani and Bangladeshi households were more likely to live in low income than those from any other ethnic group
- people in White British and White Other households were the least likely to live in low income
- the percentage of Bangladeshi households in low income went down from 51% to 35% – the biggest decrease out of all ethnic groups, although the percentage has gone up in the latest 3-year period
7. By ethnicity over time (after housing costs)
Ethnicity | 2008/09 to 2010/11 | 2009/10 to 2011/12 | 2010/11 to 2012/13 | 2011/12 to 2013/14 | 2012/13 to 2014/15 | 2013/14 to 2015/16 | 2014/15 to 2016/17 | 2015/16 to 2017/18 | 2016/17 to 2018/19 | 2017/18 to 2019/20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
All | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Asian | 41 | 39 | 39 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 37 |
Bangladeshi | 63 | 53 | 56 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 50 | 53 | 55 |
Chinese | 31 | 40 | 46 | 49 | 38 | 35 | 29 | 33 | 34 | 30 |
Indian | 30 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Pakistani | 52 | 52 | 48 | 46 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 46 | 46 | 47 |
Asian other | 41 | 41 | 42 | 39 | 35 | 32 | 33 | 39 | 41 | 42 |
Black | 42 | 39 | 39 | 41 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 40 |
Mixed | 36 | 39 | 38 | 33 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 36 | 34 | 32 |
White | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
White British | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
White other | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
Other | 42 | 42 | 40 | 41 | 44 | 46 | 44 | 42 | 40 | 40 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity over time (after housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity over time (after housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity over time (after housing costs) Summary
The data shows that between March 2008 and April 2020, after housing costs were paid:
- people in Pakistani and Bangladeshi households were more likely to live in low income than those from any other ethnic group
- people in White British households were the least likely to be in low income
- the percentage of Bangladeshi households in low income went down from 63% to 55% – the biggest decrease out of all ethnic groups, although the percentage has gone up in the latest three 3-year periods
8. By ethnicity over time (after housing costs)
Ethnicity | 2008/09 to 2010/11 | 2009/10 to 2011/12 | 2010/11 to 2012/13 | 2011/12 to 2013/14 | 2012/13 to 2014/15 | 2013/14 to 2015/16 | 2014/15 to 2016/17 | 2015/16 to 2017/18 | 2016/17 to 2018/19 | 2017/18 to 2019/20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
All | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Asian | 41 | 39 | 39 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 37 |
Bangladeshi | 63 | 53 | 56 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 50 | 53 | 55 |
Chinese | 31 | 40 | 46 | 49 | 38 | 35 | 29 | 33 | 34 | 30 |
Indian | 30 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Pakistani | 52 | 52 | 48 | 46 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 46 | 46 | 47 |
Asian other | 41 | 41 | 42 | 39 | 35 | 32 | 33 | 39 | 41 | 42 |
Black | 42 | 39 | 39 | 41 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 40 |
Mixed | 36 | 39 | 38 | 33 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 36 | 34 | 32 |
White | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
White British | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
White other | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
Other | 42 | 42 | 40 | 41 | 44 | 46 | 44 | 42 | 40 | 40 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity over time (after housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity over time (after housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity over time (after housing costs) Summary
The data shows that between March 2008 and April 2020, after housing costs were paid:
- people in Pakistani and Bangladeshi households were more likely to live in low income than those from any other ethnic group
- people in White British households were the least likely to be in low income
- the percentage of Bangladeshi households in low income went down from 63% to 55% – the biggest decrease out of all ethnic groups, although the percentage has gone up in the latest three 3-year periods
9. By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs)
Ethnicity | All | Children | Working-age | Pensioners |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | |
All | 17 | 21 | 15 | 18 |
Asian | 28 | 34 | 25 | 32 |
Bangladeshi | 35 | 42 | 31 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Chinese | 25 | 31 | 22 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Indian | 18 | 18 | 15 | 32 |
Pakistani | 41 | 46 | 39 | 37 |
Asian other | 24 | 28 | 23 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Black | 27 | 32 | 24 | 23 |
Mixed | 19 | 27 | 15 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
White | 16 | 19 | 14 | 18 |
White British | 16 | 18 | 14 | 18 |
White other | 16 | 22 | 13 | 22 |
Other | 27 | 36 | 24 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs) Summary
Data is shown for the following age groups:
- children – under 16 years old, or 16 to 19 if they are living with their parents, in full-time education or training, and not married or in a civil partnership
- working age – 16 years old to State Pension age
- pensioner – State Pension age or over
The data shows that, before housing costs were paid:
- children in Pakistani (46%) and Bangladeshi households (42%) were the most likely to live in low income, while children in White British (18 %) and Indian (18%) households were the least likely to live in low income
- among working age adults, those in Pakistani households (39%) were the most likely to live in low income
- among pensioners, those in Pakistani households (37%) were the most likely to live in low income
10. By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs)
Ethnicity | All | Children | Working-age | Pensioners |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | |
All | 17 | 21 | 15 | 18 |
Asian | 28 | 34 | 25 | 32 |
Bangladeshi | 35 | 42 | 31 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Chinese | 25 | 31 | 22 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Indian | 18 | 18 | 15 | 32 |
Pakistani | 41 | 46 | 39 | 37 |
Asian other | 24 | 28 | 23 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Black | 27 | 32 | 24 | 23 |
Mixed | 19 | 27 | 15 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
White | 16 | 19 | 14 | 18 |
White British | 16 | 18 | 14 | 18 |
White other | 16 | 22 | 13 | 22 |
Other | 27 | 36 | 24 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity and age group (before housing costs) Summary
Data is shown for the following age groups:
- children – under 16 years old, or 16 to 19 if they are living with their parents, in full-time education or training, and not married or in a civil partnership
- working age – 16 years old to State Pension age
- pensioner – State Pension age or over
The data shows that, before housing costs were paid:
- children in Pakistani (46%) and Bangladeshi households (42%) were the most likely to live in low income, while children in White British (18 %) and Indian (18%) households were the least likely to live in low income
- among working age adults, those in Pakistani households (39%) were the most likely to live in low income
- among pensioners, those in Pakistani households (37%) were the most likely to live in low income
11. By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs)
Ethnicity | All | Children | Working-age | Pensioners |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | |
All | 22 | 30 | 21 | 17 |
Asian | 37 | 45 | 34 | 33 |
Bangladeshi | 55 | 68 | 49 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Chinese | 30 | 29 | 30 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Indian | 24 | 26 | 21 | 33 |
Pakistani | 47 | 53 | 44 | 38 |
Asian other | 42 | 51 | 39 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Black | 40 | 48 | 36 | 30 |
Mixed | 32 | 44 | 27 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
White | 19 | 26 | 18 | 16 |
White British | 19 | 25 | 18 | 16 |
White other | 26 | 35 | 23 | 23 |
Other | 40 | 51 | 36 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs) Summary
Data is shown for the following age groups:
- children – under 16 years old, or 16 to 19 if they are living with their parents, in full-time education or training, and not married or in a civil partnership
- working age – 16 years old to State Pension age
- pensioner – State Pension age or over
The data shows that, after housing costs were paid:
- children living in Bangladeshi (68%) households were the most likely to live in low income – children living in White British (25%) and Indian (26%) households were the least likely
- among working age adults, those living in Bangladeshi (49%) and Pakistani (44%) households were the most likely to live in low income – White British (18%) and Indian (21%) working age adults were the least likely
- among pensioners, those living in Pakistani (38%) and Indian (33%) households were the most likely to live in low income households – White British pensioners (16%) were the least likely
12. By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs)
Ethnicity | All | Children | Working-age | Pensioners |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | |
All | 22 | 30 | 21 | 17 |
Asian | 37 | 45 | 34 | 33 |
Bangladeshi | 55 | 68 | 49 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Chinese | 30 | 29 | 30 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Indian | 24 | 26 | 21 | 33 |
Pakistani | 47 | 53 | 44 | 38 |
Asian other | 42 | 51 | 39 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Black | 40 | 48 | 36 | 30 |
Mixed | 32 | 44 | 27 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
White | 19 | 26 | 18 | 16 |
White British | 19 | 25 | 18 | 16 |
White other | 26 | 35 | 23 | 23 |
Other | 40 | 51 | 36 | withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs)’ (CSV)
Summary of People in low income households By ethnicity and age group (after housing costs) Summary
Data is shown for the following age groups:
- children – under 16 years old, or 16 to 19 if they are living with their parents, in full-time education or training, and not married or in a civil partnership
- working age – 16 years old to State Pension age
- pensioner – State Pension age or over
The data shows that, after housing costs were paid:
- children living in Bangladeshi (68%) households were the most likely to live in low income – children living in White British (25%) and Indian (26%) households were the least likely
- among working age adults, those living in Bangladeshi (49%) and Pakistani (44%) households were the most likely to live in low income – White British (18%) and Indian (21%) working age adults were the least likely
- among pensioners, those living in Pakistani (38%) and Indian (33%) households were the most likely to live in low income households – White British pensioners (16%) were the least likely
13. Data sources
Source
Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20
Type of data
Survey data
Type of statistic
National Statistics
Publisher
Department for Work and Pensions
Note on corrections or updates
Any 3-year estimates before the period from April 2012 to March 2015 may be different to the published Households Below Average Income tables due to a change in the ethnic groups shown.
Publication frequency
Yearly
Purpose of data source
Households Below Average Income is the main source of data about household income and inequality in the UK.
14. Download the data
This file contains the following variables: measure, ethnicity, year, age group, value