Romania ranked second in the European Union for the risk of poverty and social exclusion last year, according to the most recent data of the European Union’s statistical office Eurostat.

One in three Romanians run the risk of being poor and socially excluded. In 2015, about 41.3% in Bulgaria’s population ran this risk while the percentage amounted to 37.3% in Romania, reports local Agerpres. Greece ranked third, with 35.7%.

Compared to 2014, the indicator fell by three percentage points in Romania. However, Romania ranked first in the EU for the share of children who faced the risk of poverty and social exclusion, with a percentage of 46.8%. This means that every second child in Romania is exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion. In Bulgaria, the percentage was lower, namely 43.7%.

Over a third of children were exposed to poverty and social risk in six countries of the EU in 2015, namely Romania (46.8%), Bulgaria (43.7%), Greece (37.8 %), Hungary (36.1%), Spain (34.4%) and Italy (33.5%), according to Eurostat. The lowest levels of this indicator were recorded last year in Sweden (14%), Finland (14.9%), Denmark (15.7%), Slovenia (16.6%), the Netherlands (17.2 %), and the Czech Republic and Germany (both 18.5%).

Between 2010 and 2015, the risk of poverty or social exclusion increased in almost half of the EU member states. The highest advance was recorded in Greece, from 28.7% in 2010 to 37.8% in 2015. On the other hand, the most important decline was recorded in Latvia from 42.4% in 2010 to 31.3% in 2015.

editor@romania-insider.com