In 2024, approximately 93.3 million people in the European Union—equivalent to 21.0% of the population—were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat data. This marks a slight improvement from 2023, when 21.3% (94.6 million) faced similar risks.
Individuals classified under this group experienced at least one of three conditions: risk of income poverty, severe material and social deprivation, or living in a household with very low work intensity.
The share of affected populations varied significantly across EU countries. Bulgaria reported the highest rate at 30.3%, followed by Romania (27.9%), Greece (26.9%), and both Spain and Lithuania (25.8%).
In contrast, the lowest rates were observed in Czechia (11.3%), Slovenia (14.4%), the Netherlands (15.4%), Poland (16.0%), and Ireland (16.7%). The data reflects ongoing efforts across member states to address economic disparities and improve social support systems.
