Updated 28 September 2012
Rate of pensioner poverty
Indicator description
This indicator measures the percentage of pensioners in the UK with incomes below 60% of median income in a particular year adjusted for family size and composition and after deducting housing costs. This adjustment allows us to compare different household types in a robust way.
Latest data – published in June 2012
The latest data for 2010/11 shows that 14% of pensioners were in relative poverty in 2010/11 (based on those with incomes below 60% of contemporary equivalised median income, after housing costs). The rate of pensioner poverty reduced from 15% in 2009/10 to 14% in 2010/11. This has largely been due to a decline in median income in real terms (and thus the poverty threshold).
| 2008/2009 | 2009/2010 | 2010/11 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate of Pensioner Poverty | 16% | 15% | 14% |
This indicator is derived from data in column J (FRS (UK)) of table 6.1tr of:
- Households Below Average Income release (134KB)
- Percentage of pensioners falling below 60% of contemporary median income in the United Kingdom (34KB)
- CSV file – Percentage of pensioners falling below 60% of contemporary median income in the United Kingdom (2KB) CSV
Detailed information on the levels and trends of pensioner incomes is available from:
