At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) was 37.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
37.2%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
3rd
of 47 countries
All-time high
39.3%
in 2013
All-time low
32.0%
in 1996
Years of data
20
1995–2018

At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1995–2018

0102030401995200620181995: 35 Percentage1996: 32 Percentage1997: 35 Percentage1998: 36 Percentage1999: 36 Percentage2000: 35 Percentage2005: 37.6 Percentage2006: 36.3 Percentage2007: 35 Percentage2008: 35.7 Percentage2009: 37.9 Percentage2010: 39.1 Percentage2011: 38.1 Percentage2012: 38.6 Percentage2013: 39.3 Percentage2014: 37.8 Percentage2015: 38.4 Percentage2016: 36.9 Percentage2017: 37.5 Percentage2018: 37.2 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 37.2% for at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in 2018.

That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 39.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 32.0%, in 1996.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3rd out of 47 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.

At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in social transfers) by poverty threshold, age and sex - EU-SILC and ECHP surveys in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1995 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
1995 35.0%
1996 32.0% -8.6%
1997 35.0% +9.4%
1998 36.0% +2.9%
1999 36.0% +0.0%
2000 35.0% -2.8%
2005 37.6% +7.4%
2006 36.3% -3.5%
2007 35.0% -3.6%
2008 35.7% +2.0%
2009 37.9% +6.2%
2010 39.1% +3.2%
2011 38.1% -2.6%
2012 38.6% +1.3%
2013 39.3% +1.8%
2014 37.8% -3.8%
2015 38.4% +1.6%
2016 36.9% -3.9%
2017 37.5% +1.6%
2018 37.2% -0.8%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 37.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31.8%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 37.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 31.9%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 34.8% 32.0% 36.0% 5
2000s 36.2% 35.0% 37.9% 6
2010s 38.1% 36.9% 39.3% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 1 France 40.0% compare
  2. 2 Bulgaria 39.5% compare
  3. 3 United Kingdom 37.2% compare
  4. 5 Italy 36.8% compare
  5. 6 Finland 36.4% compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 37.2% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 2013.
What is the lowest at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 32.0% in 1996.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in)?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 3rd out of 47 countries with data for 2018.
Is at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in social transfers) by poverty threshold, age and sex - EU-SILC and ECHP surveys. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/at-risk-of-poverty-rate-before-social-transfers-pensions-included-in-social-transfers-by/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
At-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers (pensions included in social transfers) by poverty threshold, age and sex - EU-SILC and ECHP surveys
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
48 places, 1,039 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed