One in four children in Europe is in poverty or social exclusion

Omissions

• The claim does not specify a reference year; the most recent data available as of the session date (2026-05-20) is for 2024, published by Eurostat in May 2025. The 2024 figure of 24.2% represents a slight decrease from 24.8% in 2023.
• The MEP says 'in Europe,' but the verified data refers specifically to the EU-27. The figure for the broader European continent may differ.
• The AROPE indicator is a composite measure combining three dimensions: monetary poverty (below 60% of median income), severe material and social deprivation, and low work intensity. The claim does not clarify this composite nature.

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat News Article — 24% of EU children at poverty risk or social exclusionIn 2024, 19.5 million children in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This figure represented 24.2% of children under the age of 18, down by 0.6 percentage points (pp) compared with 2023 (24.8%).
• PrimaryEurostat Statistics Explained — Children at risk of poverty or social exclusionIn 2024, 24.2% of children aged less than 18 in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion compared with 20.3% of people aged 18 years and over. Between 2023 and 2024, the percentage of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU slightly decreased from 24.8% to 24.2%.