Child Poverty 2025
Latest Report
The “Child Poverty in Australia 2025” report is the second report by Bankwest Curtin Economic and the Valuing Children Initiative, tracking child poverty rates in Australia.
This latest snapshot confirms that child poverty rates are rising and the devastating impact that rising housing costs, stagnant income support, and widening inequality is having on child wellbeing.
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Child Poverty is Rising
As of 2025, an estimated 950,100 children (15.6% of all children) are living below the poverty line in Australia. This marks almost a QUARTER of a million more children in povery in just four years.
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The Main Drivers
Housing and rental costs: Median weekly rent for a 3-bedroom house rose by 25% since 2022.
Low wage growth: Wages have not kept pace with inflation.
Withdrawal of COVID support: Temporary income supplements were removed, increasing financial stress
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Who is at most risk?
Children in single parent households: 36.6% live below the poverty line; 10.8% in extreme poverty.
Children in couple households: Lower risk (10.6%), but higher total numbers due to population size.
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Poverty across States
Highest child poverty rates: South Australia (18.3%), Victoria (17.1%), NSW (17.0%).
Lowest child poverty rates: Queensland (12.0%), Tasmania (14.7%).
Western Australia: 16.2% of children live in poverty, including 30,300 in severe poverty.
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