Date published: 27 January 2026
This report sets out the nature of poverty in the UK, and evaluates changes under the last Conservative-led Government. It also sets out the scale of action necessary for the current Government to deliver the change it has promised.
This report studies a range of data sources and published insights to build a comprehensive picture of the current state of poverty across the United Kingdom (UK). We know poverty can lead to negative impacts at all stages of life, so it is critical to look closely at the available information to work out who is worst affected, determine how levels have changed over time, and to see what the future prospects are likely to be. For the first time, we have produced a data dashboard to allow users to interact with the key charts in the report. We intend to keep this up-to-date throughout the year. We are also publishing a forward look at potential poverty rates under a range of economic scenarios in parallel with this report.
UK Poverty 2026: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK | Joseph Rowntree Foundation