Living in poverty in Jersey statistics (FOI)

​Request

Please could you tell me the statistics for the following:​​​​​

How many people are living in poverty in Jersey
How many children are living in poverty in Jersey
For the years of 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023/24

Response

There is currently not a singular definition of the term “poverty", so whilst, in general terms, there are a number of sources of information the Government of Jersey does hold on this subject, it does not hold the specific information required to directly answer this question and Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

There are, however, a number of publicly available reports which may be useful in providing some relevant information – links to those reports can be found below: 

Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey:

This survey of Islanders asked questions around cJersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (JOLS).gov.jeoping financially and difficulty with affording certain items. 

Jersey Children and Young People's Survey: ​

Jersey Children and Young People's Survey.gov.je

As above but this survey was targeted at young Islanders. 

Household Income Distribution report:

Income Distribution Report 2021 20230630 SJ.gov.je. pdf

Report on income and spending of around 1,300 Jersey households 

Indicators of deprivation report:

Census 2021 Indicators of Deprivation Report SJ.gov.je.pdf

A report spanning 10 years – using information from Censuses which analyses indicators of deprivation. 

Homelessness Report:

Homelessness in Jersey Report: Second Quarter 2024.gov.je

This report provides anonymised data collected from the Island's homelessness accommodation and support services about people who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness in Jersey.  

The report includes data from the quarter about the number of people who are homeless in Jersey, the reasons for homelessness, and the involvement of services in providing accommodation and support. 

Food Banks:

The Government does not hold current information on specific usage of Food Banks but does work closely with the agencies that operate them.  

The use of foodbanks was included as a question in the “Money Matters" section of the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 2023 linked below. ​

Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 2023 Report.pdf​

​Previously, reports were published in 2016 and 2017 which looked at Food Bank usage in the Island. 

States Assembly | R-114-2016 ​
States Assembly | R-139-2017 ​

Article applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority"

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.​​