Collection

Households below average income (HBAI) statistics

Statistics on the number and percentage of people living in low-income households in the UK.

Published 14 June 2013
Last updated 26 June 2018 — see all updates

• From: Department for Work and Pensions

These publications provide statistics and commentary on living standards in UK households, as determined by disposable income. They include the number and percentage of people living in low-income households, and changes in income patterns over time.

Find future households below average income (HBAI) statistics release dates in our statistics release calendar.

There is more about DWP statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.

Email team.hbai@dwp.gsi.gov.uk with any questions or feedback.

HBAI data on Stat-Xplore

HBAI data is now available on the Stat-Xplore online tool. You can use Stat-Xplore to create your own custom tabulations and view the results in interactive charts.

HBAI information is available from financial year 1994 to 1995 up to financial year 2016 to 2017, at:

• an individual level
• a family level (benefit unit level)
• a household level

Read the user guide to HBAI data on Stat-Xplore.

We are seeking feedback from users on this development release of HBAI data on Stat-Xplore – email team.hbai@dwp.gsi.gov.uk with your comments.

Latest release

1. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2016/17
   • 22 March 2018
   • National Statistics

Background information and guidance

Access the underlying data used to produce the statistics through the UK data archive.

Read a guide to sources of data on earnings and income published by the Office for National Statistics.

1. Changes to DWP households’ and pensioners’ incomes statistics 2015/16: statistical notice
   • 16 February 2017
   • Guidance
2. Accessing datasets: access arrangements for sensitive versions of DWP data
   • 5 July 2013
   • Guidance
3. How low income is measured in households below average income statistics
   • 26 September 2016
   • Guidance
4. Changes to DWP Family and Household Income Statistics 2014/15: statistical notice
   • 3 May 2016
   • Official Statistics
5. First release: households below average income (HBAI) statistics, June 2013
   • 13 June 2013
   • National Statistics
6. First Release: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistics, June 2012
   • 14 June 2012
   • National Statistics
7. Confirmed changes to the 2012/13 Households Below Average Income publication
   • 29 April 2014
   • Official Statistics
8. Proposed changes to the 2012/13 Households Below Average Income publication
   • 28 January 2014
   • Official Statistics
9. Changes to the households below average income (HBAI) statistics 2011/12: statistical note
   • 21 May 2013
   • Official Statistics
10. Households below average income and Pensioners' incomes series: revisions to 2008/09 and 2009/10 results
    • 21 May 2013
    • Official Statistics
11. Re-grossed Households below average income (HBAI) estimates 2002/03 to 2011/12
    • 20 June 2014
    • Guidance
12. Households Below Average Income (HBAI): results of 2009/10 usage survey
    • 18 August 2011
    • Official Statistics
13. DWP Family and Household Income Statistics – adjusting for inflation: statistical notice
    • 13 June 2013
    • Guidance
14. Households Below Average Income: technical note on severe child poverty indicator
    • 6 May 2011
    • Official Statistics
15. Households Below Average Income (HBAI): technical note on pensioner material deprivation
    • 7 March 2011
    • Official Statistics
16. HBAI absolute low income: illustrative figures using CPI to adjust for inflation
    • 14 June 2013
    • Official Statistics

Previous releases

Find archived HBAI reports on the National Archives website.

1. Households Below Average Income: 1994/95 to 2015/16
   • 16 March 2017
   • National Statistics
2. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2014/15
   • 28 June 2016
   • National Statistics
3. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2013/14
   • 25 June 2015
   • National Statistics
4. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2012/13
   • 1 July 2014
   • National Statistics
5. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2011/12
   • 13 June 2013
   • National Statistics
6. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2010/11
   • 11 June 2012
   • National Statistics
7. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2009/10
   • 28 May 2012
   • National Statistics
8. Households below average income: 1994/95 to 2008/09
   • 11 July 2013
   • National Statistics

Published 14 June 2013
Last updated 26 June 2018 + show all updates

1. 26 June 2018 Added information that HBAI data is now available on Stat-Xplore - an online tool that lets you create customised tabulations and view results in interactive charts.
2. 22 March 2018 Added 'Households below average income: 1994/1995 to 2016/2017'.
3. 16 March 2017 Published Households below average income: 1994/1995 to 2015/2016.
4. 16 February 2017 Published a statistical notice about a change in methodology for the HBAI report, to take effect for the 2015/16 publication.
5. 28 June 2016 Published Households below average income: 1994/1995 to 2014/2015.
6. 31 March 2016 Added link to background information about a new statistics publication 'Income dynamics' due to be published in February/March 2017.
7. 25 June 2015 Published Households below average income: 1994/1995 to 2013/2014.
8. 1 July 2014 Published Households below average income (HBAI) stats for 1994/95 to 2012/13.
9. 20 June 2014 Added "Re-grossed Households below average income (HBAI) estimates 2002/03 to 2011/12"
10. 3 June 2014 Published next release date for these statistics (1 July 2014).
11. 29 April 2014 Published new statistical note confirming changes to the 2012/13 HBAI report, provisionally scheduled for publication in June 2014.
12. 28 January 2014 Link added to statistical notice about proposed changes to future publications
13. 14 June 2013 First published.