Around 200,000 children in Ireland were living in households below the poverty line in 2024 despite an increase in average household incomes, according to new ESRI research.
The number increased by almost 30,000 in the space of a year, with 17.4 per cent of children living in households with incomes below 60 per cent of the national median.
When housing costs were taken into account, the number affected increased to approximately 260,000 children, or 22.7 per cent.
The research found particularly high levels among families with young children.
After housing costs, the poverty rate among families whose youngest child was aged five or under increased from 20.8 per cent to 26.6 per cent.
The increase came despite inflation-adjusted average household income rising by around four per cent between 2023 and 2024.
The ESRI research was carried out in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland using CSO income and living-conditions data.
