The pie chart presents the distribution of different categories of families living in poverty in the United Kingdom in 2002.
Overall, poverty was disproportionately concentrated among single-parent and single-adult households, while elderly couples were the least affected group. A clear pattern emerges indicating that households with children, particularly those headed by a single parent, were more vulnerable to financial hardship.
In terms of specific figures, sole parents constituted the largest proportion at 26%, making them the most economically disadvantaged category. This was followed closely by single adults without children, who accounted for 24%. Couples with children represented 15% of those living in poverty, a figure slightly above the overall average for all households, which stood at 14%.
By contrast, couples without children made up only 9% of impoverished families. The elderly experienced comparatively lower poverty rates: single aged individuals accounted for 7%, whereas aged couples represented the smallest share, at just 5%.
In summary, the data highlights a pronounced disparity between household types, with single-parent families facing the greatest risk of poverty and elderly couples demonstrating the highest level of financial stability among the groups shown.