In 2024, 6.4% of people in the EU faced severe material and social deprivation, indicating a slight decrease compared with 2023 (6.8%).

Young people under 18 were most affected by severe material and social deprivation (7.9%), followed by those aged 18 to 64 (6.4%), and those 65 and older (5.1%).

Women had higher rates of severe material and social deprivation than men (6.6% compared with 6.2%). This pattern of higher rates for women was consistent across all observed age groups, except for those under the age of 18.

Severe material and social deprivation rate, 2024, % by sex and age group. Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: ilc_mdsd11

Among EU countries, the highest share of people who faced severe material and social deprivation was recorded in Romania (17.2%), followed by Bulgaria (16.6%) and Greece (14.0%).

By contrast, the lowest rates were recorded in Slovenia (1.8%), Croatia (2.0%) and Poland (2.3%).

Source dataset: ilc_mdsd11