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Who is in the lowest-income fifth?
A fifth of people in the UK: those whose household income, adjusted for household size, ranks them lowest. The middle income in this fifth was £366 a week before housing costs (April 2024 to March 2025). See which families, homes and places make it up.
Evidence last reviewed 31 October 2026
How much this fifth has coming in
Middle income in the lowest-income fifth, after housing costs: £273 a week.
DWP’s 95% confidence interval: £253 to £292. Household income adjusted for household size, in 2024/25 prices, for a couple with no children.
The fifths here rank people, not households. Each holds a fifth of individuals, so a large household counts several times. Ranking after housing costs; switching changes who is in each fifth.
Show the workings and sources
HBAI uncertainty Table 8a: quintile medians with 95% confidence intervals.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Who is in this fifth
Each chart splits the fifth one way at a time. The figure under each bar is that group’s share of everyone, so you can see who is over-represented. Groups from different charts cannot be combined: the published tables do not say, for example, how many single parents in this fifth also rent.
- People in pensioner couples7%
Share of everyone: 13%
- Single pensioners7%
Share of everyone: 7%
- People in couples with children37%
Share of everyone: 34%
- People in couples without children11%
Share of everyone: 20%
- People in single-parent families16%
Share of everyone: 8%
- Single adults without children22%
Share of everyone: 19%
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| People in pensioner couples | 7.3% | 12.6% | 11.6% of 8.63m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Single pensioners | 7.0% | 6.9% | 20.3% of 4.68m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in couples with children | 37.0% | 33.9% | 21.8% of 23.11m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in couples without children | 11.1% | 19.6% | 11.4% of 13.38m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in single-parent families | 15.8% | 8.0% | 39.7% of 5.45m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Single adults without children | 21.8% | 19.0% | 22.9% of 12.99m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Adult men32%
Share of everyone: 38%
- Adult women37%
Share of everyone: 40%
- Children30%
Share of everyone: 22%
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult men | 32.5% | 38.5% | 16.9% of 26.24m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Adult women | 37.5% | 40.0% | 18.7% of 27.31m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Children | 30.0% | 21.5% | 27.9% of 14.69m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- People in families with a full-time self-employed adult12%
Share of everyone: 10%
- People in families where every adult works full time10%
Share of everyone: 32%
- People in couples where one works full time and one part time6%
Share of everyone: 10%
- People in couples where one works full time and one does not work13%
Share of everyone: 9%
- People in families with part-time but no full-time work15%
Share of everyone: 10%
- People in workless families with someone aged 60 or over17%
Share of everyone: 18%
- People in workless families with someone unemployed5%
Share of everyone: 2%
- People in other workless families22%
Share of everyone: 9%
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| People in families with a full-time self-employed adult | 11.5% | 10.1% | 22.7% of 6.92m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in families where every adult works full time | 9.7% | 32.3% | 6.0% of 22.04m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in couples where one works full time and one part time | 6.3% | 9.9% | 12.6% of 6.79m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in couples where one works full time and one does not work | 13.3% | 9.2% | 28.9% of 6.28m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in families with part-time but no full-time work | 14.7% | 9.6% | 30.6% of 6.56m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in workless families with someone aged 60 or over | 17.5% | 17.9% | 19.6% of 12.20m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in workless families with someone unemployed | 5.3% | 1.6% | 66.2% of 1.10m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in other workless families | 21.7% | 9.3% | 46.5% of 6.36m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- People in homes owned outright19%
Share of everyone: 31%
- People in homes bought with a mortgage17%
Share of everyone: 34%
- People in social rented homes30%
Share of everyone: 16%
- People in privately rented homes34%
Share of everyone: 19%
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| People in homes owned outright | 18.6% | 30.6% | 12.2% of 20.86m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in homes bought with a mortgage | 17.4% | 33.7% | 10.4% of 22.97m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in social rented homes | 30.2% | 16.4% | 36.9% of 11.18m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| People in privately rented homes | 33.7% | 19.4% | 34.8% of 13.24m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Disabled children3%
Share of everyone: 3%
- Disabled working-age adults17%
Share of everyone: 14%
- Disabled pensioners5%
Share of everyone: 8%
- Non-disabled children27%
Share of everyone: 19%
- Non-disabled working-age adults41%
Share of everyone: 47%
- Non-disabled pensioners7%
Share of everyone: 10%
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled children | 2.9% | 2.6% | 21.9% of 1.79m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Disabled working-age adults | 16.6% | 13.9% | 23.9% of 9.48m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Disabled pensioners | 5.5% | 8.1% | 13.6% of 5.51m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Non-disabled children | 27.2% | 18.9% | 28.7% of 12.90m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Non-disabled working-age adults | 40.7% | 46.8% | 17.4% of 31.92m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Non-disabled pensioners | 7.2% | 9.7% | 14.8% of 6.65m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- North East4%
Share of everyone: 4%
- North West11%
Share of everyone: 11%
- Yorkshire and the Humber9%
Share of everyone: 8%
- East Midlands7%
Share of everyone: 7%
- West Midlands10%
Share of everyone: 9%
- East of England9%
Share of everyone: 9%
- London18%
Share of everyone: 14%
- South East12%
Share of everyone: 14%
- South West7%
Share of everyone: 8%
- Wales5%
Share of everyone: 5%
- Scotland7%
Share of everyone: 8%
- Northern Ireland2%
Share of everyone: 3%
Three-year averages (April 2022 to March 2025), so sizes differ slightly from the single-year total.
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 4.0% | 4.0% | 19.9% of 2.70m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| North West | 11.2% | 11.0% | 20.4% of 7.44m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 8.6% | 8.2% | 20.9% of 5.56m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| East Midlands | 6.9% | 7.3% | 18.9% of 4.92m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| West Midlands | 9.7% | 9.0% | 21.6% of 6.06m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| East of England | 8.6% | 9.4% | 18.4% of 6.32m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| London | 18.1% | 13.5% | 26.8% of 9.12m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| South East | 12.1% | 13.7% | 17.7% of 9.26m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| South West | 6.7% | 8.4% | 15.9% of 5.71m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| Wales | 5.0% | 4.7% | 21.5% of 3.16m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| Scotland | 7.0% | 8.0% | 17.6% of 5.40m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
| Northern Ireland | 2.0% | 2.8% | 14.2% of 1.90m ÷ fifth total 13.51m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- White68%
Share of everyone: 83%
- Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups2%
Share of everyone: 1%
- Asian/Asian British17%
Share of everyone: 9%
- Black/African/Caribbean/Black British8%
Share of everyone: 4%
- Other ethnic group5%
Share of everyone: 2%
Three-year averages (April 2022 to March 2025), so sizes differ slightly from the single-year total.
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 67.9% | 82.9% | 16.4% of 55.97m ÷ fifth total 13.50m |
| Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups | 1.9% | 1.4% | 27.3% of 0.92m ÷ fifth total 13.50m |
| Asian/Asian British | 17.1% | 9.3% | 36.6% of 6.31m ÷ fifth total 13.50m |
| Black/African/Caribbean/Black British | 8.4% | 4.4% | 38.4% of 2.94m ÷ fifth total 13.50m |
| Other ethnic group | 4.8% | 2.0% | 47.0% of 1.37m ÷ fifth total 13.50m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- People in families with no savings26%
Share of everyone: 16%
- Less than £1,50043%
Share of everyone: 29%
- £1,500 but less than £3,0006%
Share of everyone: 7%
- £3,000 but less than £8,0009%
Share of everyone: 12%
- £8,000 but less than £10,0001%
Share of everyone: 2%
- £10,000 but less than £16,0003%
Share of everyone: 6%
- £16,000 but less than £20,0001%
Share of everyone: 3%
- £20,000 or more11%
Share of everyone: 25%
Show the workings and sources
| Group | Share of fifth | Share of everyone | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| People in families with no savings | 25.7% | 16.2% | 31.8% of 11.03m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| Less than £1,500 | 42.9% | 28.7% | 30.0% of 19.56m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| £1,500 but less than £3,000 | 6.4% | 7.1% | 18.2% of 4.82m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| £3,000 but less than £8,000 | 8.5% | 12.2% | 14.0% of 8.30m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| £8,000 but less than £10,000 | 1.3% | 2.3% | 10.9% of 1.59m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| £10,000 but less than £16,000 | 3.3% | 6.2% | 10.9% of 4.21m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| £16,000 but less than £20,000 | 1.3% | 2.6% | 10.2% of 1.74m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
| £20,000 or more | 10.6% | 24.9% | 8.5% of 17.00m ÷ fifth total 13.65m |
Published shares (Tables 3.1db and 3.2db) give, for each group, the % of its people in each fifth. "Who is in this fifth" is derived within one table: share of fifth q in group g = pct(g,q) x size(g) / sum over the partition of pct x size. Partitions are published rows that are mutually exclusive and cover everyone; sub-groups are never mixed into a partition.
- Households Below Average Income, FYE 1995 to FYE 2025: data tables — 2.5ts. DWP. Published 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-10-31. Exact file or query. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Other groups
Income fifths: Lowest-income fifth · Second fifth · Middle fifth · Fourth fifth · Highest-income fifth
All groups · Income, low income and food
Built from official tables and checked by automated tests; it has not yet had independent analytical review. About these numbers.