BC Child Poverty Report Card 2023

2023 BC Child Poverty Report Card

On February 26, 2024 First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society released the 27th annual BC Child Poverty Report Card finding that BC’s child poverty rate increased significantly from the previous year, reflecting the partial withdrawal of the government pandemic income supports for families. 

In 2021, the year this report covers, 14.3% of BC children and youth (0-17), or 126,120 kids, were living in poor households, up from 13.3% in 2020.

The report contains 25 child poverty reduction recommendations for the provincial and federal governments in the areas of tax fairness and income support, targeting initiatives for groups with higher child poverty risks, and investing in lowering barriers and improving lives through robust universal programs.

This report is released in conjunction with the national Campaign 2000 Child Poverty Report Card and other provincial and territorial reports.

2023 BC Child Poverty Report Card

See child poverty maps here.

About the BC Child Poverty Report Card

Every year for the past twenty-seven years, First Call, with the support of the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC), releases a report card with the latest statistics on child and family poverty in BC and recommendations for policy changes that would reduce these poverty levels. This is done in conjunction with the release of a national child poverty report card by Campaign 2000.

We’re in the final year of a Vancouver Foundation funded project to scale up our research to offer resources for advocacy. This includes offering more data on smaller geographic areas, identifying local system opportunities and empowering leaders with tools and training that advance policy and practices that will reduce child and family poverty.

Collaborators

The BC Child Poverty Report Card would not be possible without our provincial and national partners.

Social Planning And Research Council (sparc) Of Bc
Campaign 2000 1

Funders

The BC Child Poverty Report Card would not be possible without the financial support from our supporters and affiliates.

Health Sciences Association Of British Columbia
Bc Government & Service Employees' Union
Bctf Logo
Hospital Employees' Union
Vancouver foundation
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority Population Health