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Spain's Poverty Risk Eases Slightly as Child Poverty Deepens and Regional Gaps Persist

High housing costs, persistent inflation, precarious work keep risk elevated despite social transfers.

Overview

  • EAPN-ES reports the AROPE rate fell to 25.8% in 2024, about 12.5 million people and the lowest since 2014, yet Spain has not dropped below 25% in a decade.
  • Child poverty stands near 34–35% nationally, with households with children hardest hit and roughly half of single‑parent families at risk.
  • Territorial divides sharpen: Andalucía posts a 35.6% AROPE, Castilla‑La Mancha rises to 34.2%, while Madrid shows stark inequality with the richest fifth earning 5.5 times the poorest and one in four minors at risk.
  • Housing pressures dominate the drivers identified by experts, with rents up about 39% since 2014 and many households spending over 40% of income on housing, alongside in‑work poverty affecting about 11.7% of those below the threshold.
  • Safety nets prevent deeper deterioration yet fall short of lifting households, as the IMV reaches about 2.3 million people; EAPN and allied groups urge a State pact, stronger child‑focused transfers and housing measures, noting better outcomes where social investment is higher.