Tens of millions experience poverty in EU

In 2024, approximately 93.3 million people in the European Union—21% of the population—were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, Anadolu Agency reported citing Eurostat.

This figure includes individuals living in households facing income poverty, severe material and social deprivation, or very low work intensity.

Although the number slightly decreased by 0.3% compared to the previous year, it underscores ongoing social vulnerabilities across the EU. The highest poverty risk rates were recorded in Bulgaria (30.3%), Romania (27.9%), Greece (26.9%), and both Spain and Lithuania (25.8%).

Conversely, the lowest rates were found in the Czech Republic (11.3%), Slovenia (14.4%), the Netherlands (15.4%), Poland (16%), and Ireland (16.7%). These disparities highlight significant regional differences within the EU.