People in low income households

Published 16 June 2022

Contents

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

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2017 to March 2020 (3-year average)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income, by ethnicity of the household

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 (CSV) Source data (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

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2017 to March 2020 (3-year average)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income, by ethnicity of the household

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 (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2008 to March 2020 (3-year averages)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (before housing costs), by ethnicity of the household over time

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 (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2008 to March 2020 (3-year averages)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (before housing costs), by ethnicity of the household over time

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 (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2008 to March 2020 (3-year averages)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (after housing costs), by ethnicity of the household over time

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 (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2008 to March 2020 (3-year averages)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (after housing costs), by ethnicity of the household over time

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 (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2017 to March 2020 (3-year average)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (before housing costs), by ethnicity of the household and age group

Ethnicity	All	Children	Working-age	Pensioners
	%	%	%	%
All	17	21	15	18
Asian	28	34	25	32
Bangladeshi	35	42	31
Chinese	25	31	22
Indian	18	18	15	32
Pakistani	41	46	39	37
Asian other	24	28	23
Black	27	32	24	23
Mixed	19	27	15
White	16	19	14	18
White British	16	18	14	18
White other	16	22	13	22
Other	27	36	24

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2017 to March 2020 (3-year average)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (before housing costs), by ethnicity of the household and age group

Ethnicity	All	Children	Working-age	Pensioners
	%	%	%	%
All	17	21	15	18
Asian	28	34	25	32
Bangladeshi	35	42	31
Chinese	25	31	22
Indian	18	18	15	32
Pakistani	41	46	39	37
Asian other	24	28	23
Black	27	32	24	23
Mixed	19	27	15
White	16	19	14	18
White British	16	18	14	18
White other	16	22	13	22
Other	27	36	24

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2017 to March 2020 (3-year average)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (after housing costs), by ethnicity of the household and age group

Ethnicity	All	Children	Working-age	Pensioners
	%	%	%	%
All	22	30	21	17
Asian	37	45	34	33
Bangladeshi	55	68	49
Chinese	30	29	30
Indian	24	26	21	33
Pakistani	47	53	44	38
Asian other	42	51	39
Black	40	48	36	30
Mixed	32	44	27
White	19	26	18	16
White British	19	25	18	16
White other	26	35	23	23
Other	40	51	36

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (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)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: April 2017 to March 2020 (3-year average)
• Source: Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2019/20

Percentage of people living in households in low income (after housing costs), by ethnicity of the household and age group

Ethnicity	All	Children	Working-age	Pensioners
	%	%	%	%
All	22	30	21	17
Asian	37	45	34	33
Bangladeshi	55	68	49
Chinese	30	29	30
Indian	24	26	21	33
Pakistani	47	53	44	38
Asian other	42	51	39
Black	40	48	36	30
Mixed	32	44	27
White	19	26	18	16
White British	19	25	18	16
White other	26	35	23	23
Other	40	51	36

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (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

People in low income households - Spreadsheet (csv) 313 KB

This file contains the following variables: measure, ethnicity, year, age group, value

Publication release date: 16 June 2022

full page history

1. 16 June 2022 Updated with note to explain 2021 data is not available

From: Department for Work and Pensions

Previous edition:

1. 29 September 2020

---

Share this page

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn