Child Poverty Rate Shows Little Improvement — What Is Life Like for Those Affected? Frontline Support Reveals Harsh Realities, Including 'One Meal a Day' in Single-Parent Households

According to the latest 'National Livelihood Survey' released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the relative child poverty rate stands at 11.0% (down from 11.5% previously), showing little significant improvement.

So, what is the actual living situation like?

At the support sites of Good Neighbors Japan (headquartered in Ota City, Tokyo; CEO: Satoshi Koizumi), the lives of already vulnerable low-income households are becoming increasingly strained, with many forced to cut back on meals, thereby undermining the foundation of daily life.

This article presents concrete evidence of the ongoing hardship faced by many families, based on survey results and firsthand accounts from those affected.

Poverty Rates Show Little Improvement, With Severe Conditions Persisting on the Ground

According to the '2025 National Livelihood Survey' published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there has been no significant improvement in child poverty rates or poverty rates among single-parent households compared to the previous survey [1].

- Child poverty rate: 11.0% (approximately 1 in 9 children) (previously 11.5%)

- Poverty rate among single-parent households [2]: 44.7% (approximately 1 in 2 households) (previously 44.5%)

The poverty rate among single-parent households remains high at 44.7%, about 6.7 times higher than households with two or more adults (6.7% in this survey).

At Good Neighbors Japan, we face the dire realities of impoverished families every day, and observe that households with fewer financial buffers are being hit hardest.

In this 'National Livelihood Survey,' the proportion of households feeling their lives are 'difficult' rose from 51.3% to 55.4% across all households, while among mother-child households, it increased from 75.2% to 82.1%, a rise exceeding that of all households.

These results suggest that hardship is not only spreading, but its severity may be intensifying among those already in the most vulnerable conditions.

[1] Refers to the poverty rate results from the 'National Livelihood Survey' published in 2022, based on a large-scale survey conducted every three years by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

[2] Households with one adult member and children, within working-age households.

The 'Real' Lives of Those Affected — Insights from Frontline Surveys

Between February and March 2026, our organization conducted a questionnaire survey [3] targeting single-parent households receiving food support from the 'Good Gohan' food bank, focusing on their living conditions.

The results showed that among employed respondents, nearly 60% reported no wage increase at their workplace in the previous year (2025), the highest proportion.

With prices continuing to rise and incomes stagnant, the real burden on households is a growing concern.

Wage Increase Situation in the Workplace in 2025

These impacts are also affecting the foundation of daily life — 'food'.

Our survey confirmed a trend of reduced meal frequency for children during holidays when school meals are unavailable, due to economic reasons.

Children's Typical Daily Meal Frequency

Reasons for Reduced Daily Meal Frequency for Children on Holidays

Moreover, many caregivers are restricting their own meals. The survey confirmed cases where caregivers survive on just one meal a day, indicating that coping mechanisms involving personal sacrifice have become normalized.

Caregivers' Typical Daily Meal Frequency

▷▷ View a list of survey results targeting low-income single-parent households using the 'Good Gohan' food bank here

[3] Good Neighbors Japan 'Survey on the Income and Living Conditions of Single-Parent Households' (conducted February–March 2026)

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000128.000005375.html

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000133.000005375.html

Voices from Those Affected

Our organization continuously receives messages from single-parent households using food support, highlighting the severity of their living conditions.

- 'I am living without child support. My daughter is in elementary school this year, but I cannot manage alone, so I work part-time as a regular employee. Due to school drop-offs and pickups, I have to limit my work hours, resulting in lower income.'

- 'I often cannot afford to buy food.'

- 'With no one to rely on, I worry that if my health fails, I won't be able to sustain my life.'

- 'I suffer from multiple illnesses, and medical expenses alone are a significant burden. I constantly worry about how to raise lump sums for my child's education.'

(All comments were submitted by single-parent households via the 'Good Gohan' food bank application form within the last three months.)

These voices reveal that multiple factors—insufficient income, work constraints, and inadequate safety nets—make unstable living conditions common. This situation cannot be attributed solely to individual household circumstances, but reflects structural societal issues.

▷▷ View interview survey results with single-parent individuals facing hardship here

Frontline Support Conditions

Since 2017, our organization has provided food support to low-income single-parent households through the 'Good Gohan' food bank. The number of households using this support is increasing, and even those who previously managed to sustain their lives are now turning to support.

On the ground, we hear voices such as 'life has become so tight that I have no choice but to rely on support' and 'I can no longer afford ingredients I used to be able to buy,' indicating that households are losing their financial resilience.

Trend in Number of Households Receiving Food from 'Good Gohan' Food Bank (per month)

The poverty rates revealed in this survey reflect the severe realities already observed on the ground, now confirmed statistically.

Difficulties that are hard to see—such as access to 'food,' a direct foundation of life—are becoming serious issues affecting daily living.

Greater efforts are needed to address these realities and strengthen support for families in difficult situations.

Good Neighbors Japan will further promote initiatives to support 'food,' the foundation of children's lives, through food assistance to low-income single-parent households. In the near term, we will enhance food distribution during the summer vacation when school meals are unavailable, and expand distribution hubs to reach more single-parent households.

<Request for Citation of Survey Results>

When citing or referencing our organization's survey results, please clearly indicate the source as 'Good Neighbors Japan, a certified NPO.'

Additionally, this survey was conducted among low-income single-parent households using the 'Good Gohan' food bank, part of Good Neighbors Japan's food bank program, and does not represent all single-parent households in Japan. When citing or referencing these results, please ensure the scope of the survey is clearly communicated.