Cyprus reports significant decline in child poverty rates

A study published on Monday regarding the implementation of the European Child Guarantee reveals a substantial improvement in child welfare in Cyprus. Between 2019 and 2025, the percentage of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the country dropped from 22.1% to 14.0%. This progress represents one of the most significant declines recorded across European Union member states during the same period.

With this achievement, Cyprus now holds the third-lowest rate of child poverty in the EU, ranking behind Slovenia at 12.5% and the Netherlands at 12.7%. The report, titled "Strengthening the European Child Guarantee – Overview of lessons and best practices from EU member states," was produced by the European Parliament's Policy Department and Eurofound at the request of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. It evaluates indicators including early childhood education, school dropout rates, and unmet healthcare needs.

Historically, Cyprus was considered a country with intermediate performance regarding these social indicators. However, the latest figures show that the nation has moved into the group of countries with the lowest levels of child poverty, effectively aligning its welfare outcomes with the top-performing member states in the European Union.