Children were the age group at the highest risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2011

In 2011, 27.0% of children (aged 0-17) in the EU-27 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) compared to 24.3% of adults (18-64) and 20.5% of the elderly (65 or over). Concerning types of households with dependent children, single parents (49.8%), two adults with three or more dependent children (30.8%) and three adults or more with dependent children (28.4%) had the highest AROPE rates. With respect to monetary poverty, more than 45.0% of low to very low work intensity households with dependent children were at risk of poverty.

Moreover, 49.2% of children whose parents’ highest level of education was low were at risk of poverty compared to 7.5% of children whose parents’ highest level of education was high. Children with a migrant background were at a greater risk of poverty than children whose parents were native born. As regards living conditions, 18.4% of single parent households were severely materially deprived compared to 9.6% households with dependent children.