Children of migrants and large families face poverty more often in Spain
Which regions of Spain have the highest levels of child poverty
Plataforma de Infancia: proposed measures to support families with children
In Spain, the gap between the living standards of children and adults remains significant: new data shows that children from migrant, large, and single-parent families are the most likely to experience poverty and social exclusion. Although there has been a slight decrease in the overall proportion of children at risk, the situation in vulnerable groups is only getting worse. According to estimates by russpain.com, 33.2% of children in the country currently live at risk of poverty or social exclusion—much higher than among the adult population.
Particular attention is drawn to single-parent families, where most often the mother raises children alone. In this category, the risk level has risen to 50.8%, and the proportion of families in extreme hardship has reached 22.3%. Large families have also found themselves in a difficult position: last year their share was 65%, but now it has increased to 68.2%. Among children with parents of foreign origin, the risk of poverty and social exclusion is 67.5%, up 1.1% compared to the previous year.
Vulnerable groups
Analysis shows that teenagers aged 13 to 17 are more likely than others to face a lack of resources. The reason is that most government and social programs are aimed at younger children, leaving adolescents out of focus. Experts note that having dependent children significantly increases the likelihood of living below the poverty line, especially for families with several children or parents of migrant origin.
In households with children, the rate of extreme poverty is nearly twice as high as in childless families: 10.3% compared to 5.8%. More than half of these families—53%—admit that managing monthly expenses is difficult. Furthermore, the gap between poor families with children and those without is 3.5 percentage points: to escape poverty, families with children need on average €35 more per month than childless families.
The impact of housing and regional disparities
Rising housing costs have become an additional risk factor. In the lowest-income families, 26.4% of children live in a situation where housing expenses exceed the family’s means. This often forces many to move from large cities to less affluent areas, where housing is cheaper but there are fewer employment and educational opportunities. The highest child poverty rates are found in Murcia (40.2%), Andalucía (39.3%), Castilla-La Mancha and Valencia (36.1% each). The gap between the most prosperous and most vulnerable regions reaches 25.3 percentage points.
Experts emphasize that without major changes in social policy and support for families with children, the situation is unlikely to improve. Proposed measures include introducing universal child benefits, increasing access to minimum income, boosting payments for families with children, and expanding support for teenagers. There is also discussion about regulating housing prices for families with children.
Problems and proposals
Key problems include insufficient targeting of existing support measures and age limits, with most programs aimed at young children, while teenagers are often overlooked. Experts also note that rising costs of living and housing put additional pressure on families, especially in regions with low incomes and limited job opportunities.
As a solution, experts suggest not only increasing financial support but also rethinking how assistance is distributed so that it covers all age groups and addresses the needs of different family types. Special attention is proposed for migrant and large families, where the risk of poverty is highest.
Plataforma de Infancia is a coalition of more than 70 organizations working to protect children’s rights in Spain. The organization analyzes data, prepares reports, and promotes initiatives aimed at improving the situation of children and families. In recent years, the platform has been actively advocating for reform of the social support system, emphasizing the need for comprehensive measures to combat child poverty and social isolation.
