One in four children in the EU lives on the poverty line
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According to Eurostat data published on 28 May 2025, 24.2% of children under 18 in the European Union were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024. This is around 19.5 million children. Although this figure has decreased by 0.6 percentage points compared to 2023, the overall situation remains alarming.
The worst indicators are found in Bulgaria (35.1 per cent), Spain (34.6 per cent) and Romania (33.8 per cent). In these countries, more than a third of children live in conditions that deprive them of basic opportunities for normal development. At the same time, the best situation is in Slovenia with 11.8 per cent, Cyprus with 14.8 per cent and the Czech Republic with 15.4 per cent. The gap between EU countries exceeds threefold, indicating systemic differences in the level of social protection and economic well-being.
Despite the bleak picture, some countries have made significant progress. Romania reduced the proportion of children living in poverty by 5.2 percentage points over the year - the largest improvement across the EU. Ireland (-3.7 percentage points) and Hungary (-3.3 percentage points) also made significant improvements. In other countries, however, the situation deteriorated. Finland, for example, showed an increase in this indicator by 3.5 p.p., while in Croatia, Bulgaria and Belgium the increase was 1.2 p.p. each.
The indicator "risk of poverty or social exclusion" is based on three criteria. These are income below 60 per cent of the national median, severe material and social deprivation, and living in households with very low employment. If a child falls under any of these criteria, they are considered vulnerable.
These data serve as a social mirror of the European Union. They demonstrate the depth of structural inequalities and the vulnerability of support systems in a number of countries. It is particularly noteworthy that child poverty remains a serious problem even in economically developed countries such as Belgium.
The consequences of child poverty go far beyond individual difficulties. It is a factor that affects the future of the entire economy: poverty in childhood reduces the chances for education, access to quality medicine and further employment, and thus for the formation of a sustainable and competitive society.
While some countries have seen positive developments, the EU as a whole is far from the goals set out in the social strategy for the coming years. Real change will require not only economic growth, but also a deeper political will to redistribute resources and create inclusive environments for all children.
