One in five children at risk of poverty, social exclusion

Nineteen per cent of Cypriot children were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2020, according to a Eurostat study published on Thursday.

The study covered all age groups – minors, adults aged 18-64, and those aged 65 and over – as well as the factors influencing the rate of poverty or social exclusion in the EU in 2020.

With 17.6 per cent of its total population at risk, Cyprus was below the EU average of 21.9 per cent. However, it was above the EU average for over-65s with 22.5 per cent. The EU average was 20.4 per cent.

At 18.6 per cent, women in Cyprus were observed to be more at risk than men, who reported 16.6 per cent.

The percentage for minors was 19 per cent, lower than the EU average of 24.2 per cent.

In addition, 55 per cent of unemployed and 8.6 per cent employed people were at risk in Cyprus, with both figures lower than EU average (66.2 per cent and 11.8 per cent respectively).

In general, similar EU averages were recorded for households with children (22.3 per cent) and without children (21.6 per cent), both of which were lower in Cyprus.

A difference was that in Cyprus, households with children (16 per cent) appeared less at risk of poverty or social exclusion than childless ones (19.6 per cent).

Among European member states, Romania recorded the highest rate of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (41.5 per cent), followed by Bulgaria (36.2 per cent), Spain (31.8 per cent) and Greece (31.5 per cent).

In contrast, Slovenia (12.1 per cent) and Czechia (12.9 per cent) had the lowest rates, ahead of Denmark (13.5 per cent) and Finland (14.5 per cent).

With 17.6 per cent, Cyprus had the ninth lowest rate.