Tackling Poverty Together Strategy 2026-2036

Understanding who lives in Gateshead, and which communities face the greatest disadvantage, is essential to directing our collective effort effectively. The data below presents a clear picture of the scale of need and the diversity of our population.

Population

Total population: 202,760

• Age 0-15 - 17.58%
• Age 16-64 - 62.04%
• Age 65+ - 20.38%

Ethnicity

• White British - 90.3%
• Non-White British - 9.7%

Certain groups have higher prevalences of poverty, the current numbers within these groups in Gateshead are set out below. Many households fall into more than one of these groups, so face additional challenges and inequalities.

• Veterans - 7,358
• Households with at least one disabled person - 33,133
• Unpaid carers - 18,802
• Non-white households - 12,662
• Carer leavers - 400
• Asylum seekers - 634
• Families with 3+ children - 2,775
• Lone parent households - 10,842
• Children and young people with SEND aged 0- 25 - 4,859

Key Gateshead statistics

• 30.7% children live in poverty
• 10% population in rural areas in high deprivation areas
• 9,500 workless households
• 1 in 6 residents aged 16% claiming Universal Credit and
• 1 in 3 Universal Credit claimants are in employment - low paid or low hour jobs
• 41% of working age people have no or low qualifications
• 16.4% of residents in private rented sector/ 25.1% of residents in social rented sector (generally lower income households)

Households in poverty

The Indices of Deprivation 2025 highlight the percentage of our population living in the top 10% and top 20% of areas of deprivation in England, with a concentration in the central and eastern areas of the borough.

• 19% of Gateshead's population lives in the top 10% of areas of deprivation in England
• 31% of Gateshead's population lives in the top 20% of areas of deprivation in England

Gateshead households / UK poverty line

• 32,899 households (37% of total households) are below the poverty line of which....
• 24,321 households (27% of all households are in deep poverty, of which....
• 15,600 households (17% of all households are in very deep poverty)

The poverty line is defined as household income below 60% of the UK median.

Deep poverty is below 50%, and very deep or extreme poverty is below 40% of the UK median household income.