In 2023, nearly 20 million children in the European Union were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to the latest available data. This concerning statistic represented 24.8% of minors under the age of 18 in the region, remaining relatively stable compared to the previous year, with a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points.
Nationally, the highest values of poverty and social exclusion risk among children were recorded in Romania, Spain, and Bulgaria. In Romania, an alarming 39.0% of minors were in this situation, while in Spain and Bulgaria the percentages were also high, at 34.5% and 33.9% respectively.
On the other hand, the countries with the lowest percentages of children at risk were Slovenia with 10.7%, Finland with 13.8%, and the Netherlands with 14.3%. These data highlight the disparity in the European Union regarding social protection and child welfare.
Experts in the social field have pointed out that factors contributing to these high levels of poverty and exclusion include lack of access to basic services, unemployment, and parental job instability, as well as significant gaps in each country’s social protection policies. The situation calls for a coordinated response at the European level to reduce inequalities and ensure a better future for all children in the region.
Social and children’s rights organizations advocate for urgent and effective measures, such as increasing investments in education, health, and social welfare, as well as implementing inclusive policies that can offer equal opportunities for all minors, regardless of their place of residence.
via: MiMub in Spanish