The EU is falling behind on its pledge to lift at least 5 million children out of poverty or social exclusion in Europe by 2030, with now more children at risk now than when the pledge was made.
BRUSSELS 14 October 2025 – About 446,000 children–or 244 children each day, on average–have been pushed to the brink of poverty in Europe in the five years since the European Union (EU) made a pledge to significantly reduce rates of child poverty by 2030, according to a new report by Save the Children.
In 2019, the EU pledged to lift at least 5 million of the 19.1 million children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Europe out of the situation by 2030. However, between 2019 and 2024, instead of reversing this trend, an additional 446,000 children in Europe became at risk of poverty or social exclusion, bringing the total to 19.5 million—or about one in four children across the EU.
Save the Children’s new report, Child Poverty: The Cost Europe Cannot Afford, argues that child poverty is not an unavoidable consequence of shifts in the economy or federal budget constraints. Instead, it is the outcome of policy decisions, underinvestment, and systemic neglect.
Child poverty functions like an “invisible tax” on economic growth and prosperity, putting increased pressure on welfare, housing, and justice systems. Poor children are less healthy, less likely to graduate, and less likely to be employed—all of which can create a cycle of poverty that can last generations, said Save the Children.
Lifelong earnings are also 20% lower for those who grow up in poverty. That means, adults who grew up poor effectively stop earning this week in the year relative to adults who didn’t grow up in low-income households.
Although the EU has taken crucial steps forward to strengthen its fight against child poverty over the past decade, the data clearly shows that the challenges remain enormous. Unless the EU properly addresses the threat of rising child poverty now and invests in all children, Save the Children warns that the EU will fail to achieve its 2030 target and risks a whole generation of children from poor families being left behind.
Willy Bergogné, Save the Children Europe’s Director and EU Representative said:
“The fact that the number of children at risk of poverty is now higher than when the EU made a pledge to lift children out of poverty is outrageous and perfectly illustrates why the EU must step up and act. The EU’s 2030 goal is at risk of becoming an empty promise—and the 2050 pledge to eradicate poverty altogether in Europe may follow the same path.
“In one of the world's richest regions there is simply no excuse not to invest in its children. This new report demonstrates that child poverty is preventable, and that investing in children is not only morally right, but it delivers high social and economic returns that will save the public money in the long-term.
“With no action, child poverty becomes a life sentence passed down through generations, costing governments more than it would have if they initially invested in children to break the cycle. So, the question needs to shift from 'can Europe afford to invest?' to 'can Europe afford not to invest?', and the answer is a resounding “no”.”
While some EU Member States have reduced the risk of child poverty or social exclusion through targeted policies—such as in Ireland, where the rate fell from 25% of children in 2019 to 20.6% in 2024—many continue to report alarmingly high levels, including Spain, where one in three children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
Even wealthier EU nations have seen reversals of earlier successes in reducing the risk of poverty or social exclusion, with rates in Finland jumping about 31%, while the rate in Belgium climbed to more than 20% in 2024.
The difference in the rates of child poverty and social exclusion across countries reflects political choices, policy design, and how governments choose to invest in children. To improve the situation of children living in poverty or social exclusion in Europe, Save the Children is calling on the EU to fully implement and fund key tools and commitments aimed at tackling poverty—such as the European Child Guarantee and the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy; provide predictable financial support, such as universal child benefits; and provide universal access to essential services, such as investing in early childhood education and universal school meal programmes.
The child rights organisation is also calling on the EU to create a coordinated whole-child approach to poverty reduction, with integrated services across health, education, and social support to meet the complex needs of vulnerable families, and legally anchor children's rights and earmark specific budgets for child poverty reduction.
Save the Children has worked in Europe for over 100 years, protecting children in vulnerable situations, advocating for their rights, and empowering them to shape a better future. Founded in the aftermath of World War I to support children in war-torn Europe, it has grown into the world’s leading child rights organisation. Today, Save the Children operates across 23 European countries and, through its Brussels office, works with EU institutions, Member States, and partners to ensure EU policies and funding put children first—both in Europe and globally.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Report: Child Poverty: The Cost Europe Cannot Afford (2025) - Save the Children’s Resource Centre
Between 2019 and 2024, about 446,000 additional children in Europe became at risk of poverty and social exclusion, this equals an average of more than 240 children every day during this period. By the end of 2019, 19,097,000 children in Europe were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, this number jumped to 19,543,000 in 2024.
Lifelong earnings are 20% lower for those who grow up in poverty, according to: The economic costs of childhood socio-economic disadvantage (EN)
