Nearly 3 in 10 children in Greece are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat’s report for 2024. The country ranks fourth among EU member states, with a rate well above the European average of 24.2%.

In 2024, 19.5 million children in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This figure represented 24.2% of children under the age of 18, down by 0.6 percentage points (pp) from 2023 (24.8%).

At the country level, in 2024, the highest values were reported in Bulgaria (35.1%), Spain (34.6%) and Romania (33.8%). In contrast, Slovenia (11.8%), Cyprus (14.8%) and Czechia (15.4%) registered the lowest shares.

Compared with 2023, Romania registered the largest decrease in the share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024, -5.2 pp, followed by Ireland (-3.7 pp) and Hungary (-3.3 pp). On the other hand, Finland (+3.5 pp), Croatia (+2.0 pp), Bulgaria and Belgium (both +1.2 pp) observed the largest increases.

In Greece, the latest Eurostat figures show that around 28% of children are living under the threat of poverty or social exclusion. This reflects the ongoing vulnerability of a large segment of the country’s younger population.

While Greece is not among the very worst performers like Bulgaria, Romania, or Spain – where rates exceed 33% – it still holds the fourth highest position across the EU and remains significantly above the European average.

______________________________________________

Are you seeking news from Greece presented from a progressive, non-mainstream perspective? Subscribe monthly or annually to support TPP International in delivering independent reporting in English. Don’t let Greek progressive voices fade.

Make sure to reference “TPP International” and your order number as the reason for payment.