The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the European Union increased by *** thousand persons since the previous year. In total, the number of people at risk of poverty amounted to **** million persons in 2023. This trend was preceded by a declining number of people at risk of poverty.People at risk of poverty or social exclusion, income distribution and monetary poverty, living conditions and material deprivation is the main indicator to monitor the EU 2030 target on poverty and social exclusion and was the headline indicator to monitor the EU 2020 Strategy poverty target.Find more key insights for the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in countries like Czechia, France, and Poland.

European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate: Males was 15.50% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate: Males - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate: Males reached a record high of 17.00% in December of 2015 and a record low of 15.40% in December of 2023.

Portugal, Spain and Bulgaria are the countries most at risk of energy poverty in the European Union. As of 2023, over ********* of households in each country were unable to adequately heat their homes. They were followed Lithuania, where another ** percent of households struggled to keep their houses warm.

The average for 2021 based on 25 countries was 1.5 percent. The highest value was in Romania: 7.1 percent and the lowest value was in Cyprus: 0.1 percent. The indicator is available from 1963 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Slovakia was the European Union (EU) country with the largest expected increase in poverty due to the Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022. According to the estimates, the share of the Slovak population at risk of poverty was estimated to increase by 4.3 percent as a consequence of economic issues caused by the invasion, such as inflation. Estonia was projected the second-highest poverty increase, at 3.7 percent of residents.

The relative median at-risk-of-poverty gap is calculated as the difference between the median equivalised total net income of persons below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold and the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, expressed as a percentage of the at-risk-of-poverty threshold (cut-off point: 60% of median equivalised income). The EU aggregate is a population weighted average of individual national figures. In line with decisions of the European Council, the risk-of-poverty rate is measured relative to the situation in each country rather than applying a common threshold to all countries.

The share of persons with an equivalised disposable income, before social transfers, below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold. Retirement and survivor's pensions are counted as income before transfers and not as social transfers.

European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 50 to 64 years was 14.50% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 50 to 64 years - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 50 to 64 years reached a record high of 16.20% in December of 2015 and a record low of 13.30% in December of 2010.

European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate of elderly people: Owner was 15.00% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate of elderly people: Owner - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate of elderly people: Owner reached a record high of 15.90% in December of 2020 and a record low of 12.10% in December of 2014.

The threshold is set at 60 % of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers). It is expressed in Purchase Parity Standards (PPS) in order to take into account differences in cost of living across EU Member States.

Historical chart and dataset showing European Union poverty rate by year from N/A to N/A.

The share of persons who are at work and have an equivalised disposable income below the risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60 % of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers). The indicator is broken down by working time (full- and part-time workers).

Between 2010 and 2023, energy poverty in the European Union saw a net decrease, despite fluctuations. As a result of a cost-of living crisis and exceptionally high fuel prices throughout 2022, more people struggled to adequately heat their homes than they did in 2021. Bulgaria is the country most affected by energy poverty in the EU, although it was able to notable improve conditions since 2010.

In-work at-risk-of-poverty rate by full-/part-time work - EU-SILC survey

Over 80 million people in the EU are still living at risk of poverty and a quarter of these citizens are children. The economic crisis has exacerbated this situation, exposing vulnerable groups even more. With the 2010 European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion drawing to a close, the EU must continue to step up its efforts for the decade to come on this key issue. Bringing vulnerable groups into the heart of our societies and labour markets is central to sustainable and inclusive growth. Poverty reduction is an engine for this future growth. At the initiative of the European Commission, EU leaders have already set, for the first time ever, a concrete numerical target to reduce poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million by 2020. Today's communication, 'The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion' sets out ways to help Member States move up a gear in fighting social exclusion. Countries now have to set their own ambitious national targets, reporting annually on their progress. The Commission will support these efforts, mobilising – among others – policies like social protection, employment and education, as well as EU funding. It will also promote new partnerships and new ways of combating poverty through social innovation to test new policy ideas. The report is structured as follows: ♦ The perceived extent of poverty and social exclusion in Europe; ♦ The (self-)perceived risk of poverty and social exclusion; ♦ The implications of poverty and social exclusion; ♦ Reasons for poverty; ♦ The economic situation of respondents; ♦ Attitudes and opinions regarding poverty and social exclusion; ♦ Combating poverty and social exclusion; ♦ Access to social services. #####The results by volumes are distributed as follows: * Volume A: Countries * Volume AA: Groups of countries * Volume A' (AP): Trends * Volume AA' (AAP): Trends of groups of countries * Volume B: EU/socio-demographics * Volume C: Country/socio-demographics ---- Researchers may also contact GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: http://www.gesis.org/en/home/

The indicator shows the percentage of the population whose equivalised disposable income was below the ‘at-.risk-of-poverty threshold’ for the current year and at least 2 out of the preceding 3 years.

European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate for pensioners: Females was 16.90% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate for pensioners: Females - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, European Union - At Risk of Poverty rate for pensioners: Females reached a record high of 17.90% in December of 2022 and a record low of 13.20% in December of 2014.

The indicator measures persons with an equivalised disposable income below the risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60 % of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers) as a % of total population. Data are expressed both in % of total population and in change over 3 years (in % points). The source of the data is EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU SILC).

This indicator is defined as the percentage of the population living in an overcrowded household. A person is considered as living in an overcrowded household if the household does not have at its disposal a minimum of rooms equal to: - one room for the household; - one room by couple in the household; - one room for each single person aged 18 and more; - one room by pair of single people of the same sex between 12 and 17 years of age; - one room for each single person between 12 and 17 years of age and not included in the previous category; - one room by pair of children under 12 years of age. The indicator is presented by poverty status.

This statistic shows the United Kingdom (UK) public opinion on the 2020 European Union (EU) objective that the number of Europeans living below the poverty line should be reduced by a quarter by 2020, as of May 2017. This was considered too modest by 17 percent of respondents.