Births to vulnerable groups

In this sub-section three births indicators that relate to risk of child poverty are examined. 

• Births by parental marital status with a particular focus on births to lone mothers and parents not living together
• Births by socio-economic status of father*
• Births to younger mothers (aged under 25) 

*  Figures for births by socio-economic status of mother are also available but are not shown because the data are not as well coded and show very similar patterns to the births by father’s socio-economic status.

Children in lone parent households and children living with young parents aged under 25 yrs are two of the groups identified by Save the Children (Severe Child Poverty: An Update) as being most at risk of severe poverty.