Cyprus records EU’s third-lowest child poverty risk rate at 14 per cent

Nicosia, Cyprus. The proportion of children facing poverty in Cyprus fell to 14 per cent in 2025 from 22.1 per cent in 2019, according to a study published on Monday assessing implementation of the European child guarantee throughout EU countries. The study placed Cyprus third lowest in the EU and described its reported decrease of 8.1 per cent as one of the largest improvements among member states.

Comparison across the EU

The study found that only Slovenia and the Netherlands had lower child poverty risk rates than Cyprus, recording 12.5 per cent and 12.7 per cent respectively.

Greater participation in early childhood services

Participation in care and education during early childhood was among the areas assessed, with the findings showing an increase in Cyprus.

The study highlighted a scheme subsidising tuition and nutrition expenses. It covers as much as 80 per cent of the relevant costs, providing monthly support of up to €350 according to factors including household income and attendance hours.

The number of children eligible in Cyprus rose by 40 per cent to 10,596, across 357 care facilities, according to the study.

The findings also showed a substantial rise in participation among children younger than three who faced poverty or social exclusion. Their participation rate reached 26.5 per cent in 2024, up from 6.8 per cent in 2019.

Low level of unmet medical needs

For healthcare, the study placed Cyprus among the countries recording the lowest levels of unmet medical needs among children, with a rate of 0.6 per cent in 2024.

Only Croatia, at 0.1 per cent, and Malta, at 0.4 per cent, recorded lower rates. The average across the EU was 3.2 per cent.