In 2025, Spain once again ranked second in the European Union for child poverty levels. More than a third of minors in the country live in poverty or social exclusion, far exceeding the EU average. Despite positive economic trends, the problem remains acute and shows no signs of improvement.
According to the latest data, 34.6% of Spanish children under the age of 18 are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. By comparison, the EU average stands at 24.2%. Only Bulgaria reports a worse situation, while countries like Portugal have made noticeable progress over the past decade. In 2015, Portugal’s child poverty level was similar to that of Spain, but by 2024 it had dropped to 20.7%.
Trends by country
Several European countries that once had high rates of child poverty have significantly reduced them over the past decade. In Romania, for example, the percentage of children living in poverty dropped from over half in 2015 to a third in 2024. Greece and Italy have also shown positive developments, though their figures remain high. In Spain, however, the child poverty rate has changed little over the past ten years, making the country stand out among its neighbors.
Experts note that in most EU countries where high rates were previously observed, the situation has improved thanks to targeted support measures. In Spain, however, the abnormally high level of child poverty persists, despite economic growth and the establishment of dedicated ministries.
Poverty structure
The issue of child poverty in Spain consists of several components. In recent years, the proportion of children living in households with low employment has decreased—this figure stood at 6.7% in 2024, even lower than the EU average. However, the economic risk of poverty remains the highest among all member states—29.2% of Spanish children fall into this category.
There is particular concern about the rising number of families facing severe material and social deprivation. In 2025, this rate reached 11.2%, the highest in recent years. Across the EU, the average fell to 7.9%. Only Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Hungary reported worse figures.
Support measures and international experience
Spain offers a special payment—the Child Assistance Supplement—but not all eligible families receive this support. According to russpain.com, the effectiveness of this measure is limited due to bureaucratic hurdles and its linkage to other social benefits. Experts and civil society organizations propose making these payments universal and separate from other benefits in order to expand coverage.
Ireland’s experience is cited as an example, where universal payments and automation of the process have significantly reduced child poverty. The country introduced one-time and monthly payments for each child, provided automatically without the need to apply. This approach has enabled Ireland to achieve one of the most notable positive trends in the EU.
Challenges and prospects
The persistently high child poverty rates in Spain threaten the country’s ability to meet poverty reduction targets by 2030. Additional complications may arise if European funds previously allocated for social support are reduced. The European Commission has already proposed reallocating some resources to other priorities, such as defense.
In the coming years, the EU plans to revise its core strategies for combating poverty, including updating the Action Plan on Rights and launching the first pan-European strategy to tackle child poverty. Spain will have an opportunity to review its approach and strengthen support measures, particularly by focusing on universal payments and ensuring all children have access to basic services.
