Inequalities in wealth and poverty by age group

Wealth and poverty are not evenly distributed across age groups, with childhood, youth, and old age often linked to higher risks of economic insecurity. In contrast, middle age is typically associated with greater financial stability.

Poverty in childhood and youth

Children and young people face a high risk of poverty, which can have long-term effects on their health, education, and future opportunities. In the UK, estimates suggest that around 3.4 million children experience poverty, affecting nearly one in three. Notably, over half of these children live in households where at least one adult works.

Consequences of child poverty:

• Health impacts - Lower birth weight leading to chronic illnesses in later life.
• Educational barriers - Limited access to extra-curricular activities, resulting in fewer qualifications and reduced progression to further education (FE) or higher education (HE).
• Housing issues - Poor living conditions or homelessness.

Poverty in old age

Older people in the UK also experience a disproportionately high risk of poverty, with around 15% of pensioners affected according to organisations like Age UK. Age UK estimates that over 850,000 older individuals live in severe poverty, meaning they cannot afford basic necessities like adequate food, heating, or independent living.

Specific challenges for older people in poverty:

• High energy bills lead many to ration heating.
• Age UK reports that over 1.9 million elderly people reduce their heating when cold, go to bed early to stay warm, or limit themselves to one room.

Age-related patterns in social mobility

Assessing age-related patterns in social mobility is complex because it intersects with other factors, such as an individual's social class background and eventual status.

Intersections between age and gender inequalities

Young women and girls, in particular, may encounter gender-specific forms of inequality that compound age-related challenges.

Gender-specific inequalities for young women and girls

• Genital mutilation - A harmful practice involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia.
• Femicide - The intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender.
• Denial of education - Restrictions on girls' access to schooling.

The digital generational gap

A digital generational gap refers to the differences in familiarity and usage of technology between age groups, often portraying younger people as tech-savvy and older individuals as less adept. This gap can reinforce cultural separations, as older generations may struggle to relate to youth culture centred on digital tools, viewing young people's reliance on social media, smartphones, and texting as obsessive or superficial.

However, the gap is narrowing. Increasing numbers of people over 65, often called "silver surfers," are adopting digital technology.