BRUSSELS — Around 93.3 million people in the European Union — equivalent to 21% of the total population — were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024, according to new data released Wednesday by Eurostat.
The data reflects individuals living in households facing at least one of three difficult conditions: income poverty, severe material and social deprivation, or very low work intensity. Despite a slight overall improvement — a 0.3% drop compared to 2023 — the figures underscore ongoing socioeconomic vulnerabilities throughout the EU.
The highest risk levels were reported in Bulgaria (30.3%), Romania (27.9%), Greece (26.9%), and both Spain and Lithuania (25.8%). In contrast, the lowest rates were observed in the Czech Republic (11.3%), Slovenia (14.4%), the Netherlands (15.4%), Poland (16%), and Ireland (16.7%).
