evidence: However, in Northern Ireland 18% of the population live in poverty, the lowest of all regions of the UK. Several regions have a 19% poverty rate (including Scotland and the South East) while the highest rates of poverty are found in Wales and the West Midlands (both 24%) and, in particular, in London (28%). [...] Northern Ireland’s welfare reform mitigations will certainly have played a part in its relatively low poverty rate. Per the JRF report: "For people living in those families claiming an income-related benefit… Northern Ireland has a substantially lower poverty rate of 33% compared with other areas of the UK for people living in families claiming an income-related benefit. Since 2013/14–2015/16, Northern Ireland has witnessed the greatest fall in this poverty rate relative to other areas of the UK." [...] Ultimately, it’s better to have lower rather than higher poverty rates, although the whole picture behind these figures is not cause for celebration. NI still has too few good jobs.