The share of children living in welfare benefit-dependent households in New Zealand was 16 percent in 2018. The quantification of child poverty in New Zealand is not reliably known. However, the rate of children living in households that rely on welfare benefits as their main source of income can be used as an indicator of income poverty among children in the country.

Child poverty statistics provide estimates of low income and material hardship rates for measures listed in the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018.

This layer shows childhood poverty figures at a country scale. Population figures were obtained in 2023.This layer uses bivariate choropleth mapping to symboloise the relationship between children living in poverty (as defined globally) and children engaged in economic activity (i.e. work).Global patterns indicate that children are most impacted by poverty. Across the globe, a staggering 333 million children live in conditions of extreme poverty. This layer has been designed to help school children in New Zealand and the South Pacific explore these claims.

This statistic depicts the results of a survey conducted in December 2018 about the level of concern for child poverty in New Zealand. During the survey period, around ** percent of respondents stated they were very concerned about the issue of child poverty across the country.

The number of children living in welfare benefit-dependent households in New Zealand amounted to ***** thousand in 2018. The quantification of child poverty in New Zealand is not reliably known. However, the number of children living in households that rely on welfare benefits as their main source of income can be used as an indicator of income poverty among children in the country.

Child poverty statistics provide estimates of low income and material hardship rates for measures listed in the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018.

Out of all OECD countries, Cost Rica had the highest poverty rate as of 2022, at over 20 percent. The country with the second highest poverty rate was the United States, with 18 percent. On the other end of the scale, Czechia had the lowest poverty rate at 6.4 percent, followed by Denmark.

The significance of the OECD

The OECD, or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, was founded in 1948 and is made up of 38 member countries. It seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of countries and their populations. The OECD looks at issues that impact people’s everyday lives and proposes policies that can help to improve the quality of life.

Poverty in the United States

In 2022, there were nearly 38 million people living below the poverty line in the U.S.. About one fourth of the Native American population lived in poverty in 2022, the most out of any ethnicity. In addition, the rate was higher among young women than young men. It is clear that poverty in the United States is a complex, multi-faceted issue that affects millions of people and is even more complex to solve.

The share of children living in welfare benefit-dependent households in New Zealand was 16 percent in 2018. The quantification of child poverty in New Zealand is not reliably known. However, the rate of children living in households that rely on welfare benefits as their main source of income can be used as an indicator of income poverty among children in the country.

In recent years, the Personal Welfare Services sector has experienced favourable operating conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the focus on health and social services, benefitting the industry through increased government funding and overall demand. Revenue for the Personal Welfare Services industry is expected to grow at an annualised 5.8% over the five years through 2023-24, to total $2.38 billion. New Zealand's economy took a major hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a significant rise in unemployment and aggravating existing societal problems. Even though the country saw considerable economic growth and lower unemployment rates before the pandemic, multiple negative factors continue to influence demand for personal welfare services. These factors include child poverty, single-parent households and individuals living alone and consequences from substance abuse like family breakdown and domestic violence. This situation has led to a growing need for counselling and child and family welfare services in recent years. The scarcity of affordable housing has also escalated homelessness, resulting in increased utilisation of food banks, soup kitchens and homeless welfare support. In 2023-24, industry revenue is anticipated to rise by 0.6% due to the increasing cost of living and persistent socio-economic inequalities. Despite many businesses being not-for-profit, profit margins are also expected to rise as government spending grows in line with the Wellbeing Budget. Revenue is projected to rise at an annualised 0.2% over the five years through 2028-29 to $2.40 billion. Revenue is set to climb slower than in recent years due to stabilising conditions following the COVID-19 pandemic. Many government investments and initiatives hope to alleviate housing stress and lower rates of homelessness. However, an aging population and the pervasive problem of child poverty will persistently lead to heightened demand for personal welfare services in the approaching years.