Spain ranked worst country in EU for child poverty 

Spain is the worst ranked country in the European Union for child poverty, according to a new report from Unicef. 

The study, 'Child Poverty in the Midst of Wealth' found that more than one in four children live in poverty in Bulgaria, Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Turkey and the United States of America. 

In contrast, the country with the lowest child poverty rate is Denmark, where 9.9% of children are poor. About one in ten children live in poverty in Finland and Slovenia. 

Worst in EU

The report reviewed the status of child poverty in 43 high-income and upper middle-income countries of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 

Spain's most recent rate of child poverty, an average of 2019–2021, was 28%. A decrease in child poverty rate (2012–2014 to 2019–2021) of 4% indicates a slight improvement over time. 

Overall, combining the two indicators above, Spain is ranked 36 out of 39, the worst in the European Union, only ahead of the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Colombia. 

Looking solely at child poverty rates from 2019 to 2021 alone, Spain was also ranked 36 out of 39, ahead of Romania, Turkey, and Colombia. 

The report found that prosperity was no guarantee for poor children, and that national wealth does not guarantee that a country will prioritize the fight against child poverty. 

It cited Spain and Slovenia as countries with similar national incomes but with very different levels of child poverty. 

"Spain and Slovenia have similar levels of national income per capita – both on the low end for countries of the EU and OECD. But Slovenia has a poverty rate of 10% and Spain's rate is 28%." 

Children behind the figures 

Gustavo Suárez, president of Unicef Spain, said the rate of child poverty in Spain was "unacceptable." 

"Behind these figures are boys and girls and teenagers who cannot afford to eat meat, chicken or fish at least once every two days or fruit and vegetables daily," warned Suárez, who also stressed that child poverty includes minors living in "unheated homes" who do not have the clothes, shoes or books they need, or who cannot take part in leisure activities or go on holiday once a year. 

According to the Unicef study, at the end of 2021 there were still more than 69 million children in OECD and EU countries living in households with incomes below 60% of the median national income. 

Poland and Slovenia are the countries that have been best at tackling child poverty in the last decade – with a reduction of more than 30% – while some of the richest countries are lagging behind, such as France and the United Kingdom. 

The report also highlights "enormous" inequalities in the risk of child poverty.

Migrant families, children in the Roma community, those with a disability or those living in one-adult households are particularly exposed to poverty.