Aims: This study aimed to identify applied definitions and measurements of economic poverty and to explore the proportionsand characteristics of children and adolescents living in economic poverty in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway andSweden during the last decade and to compare various statistics between the Nordic countries. Methods: Official data fromcentral national authorities on statistics, national reports and European Union Statistics of income and living conditionsdata were collected and analysed during 2015–2016. Results: The proportion of Nordic children living in economic povertyin 2014 ranged from 9.4% in Norway to 18.5% in Sweden. Compared with the European Union average, from 2004 to 2014Nordic families with dependent children experienced fewer difficulties in making their money last, even though Icelandicfamilies reported considerable difficulties. The characteristics of children living in economic poverty proved to be similar inthe five countries and were related to their parents' level of education and employment, single-parent households and – inDenmark, Norway and Sweden – to immigrant background. In Finland, poverty among children was linked in particular tolow income in employed households. Conclusions: This study showed that economic poverty among Nordic familieswith dependent children has increased during the latest decade, but it also showed that poverty rates are notnecessarily connected to families' ability to make their money last. Therefore additional studies are neededto explore existing policies and political commitments in the Nordic countries to compensate families withdependent children living in poverty.