Report Says 1 in 4 Children at Risk of Poverty in Europe

Almost 20 million children in European Union countries are living in poverty, according to the aid organization Save the Children. In 2021, the number of children at risk of poverty increased by 200,000 to 19.6 million, a new report by the organization found.

Every fourth child in Europe was affected, the report stated. The increased cost of living and the COVID-19 pandemic were named as the main causes of the development, DW reported.

The numbers were "devastating", said Eric Grosshaus, advocacy manager of child poverty and social inequality for Save the Children Germany. In Germany, more than 2 million children lived in poverty in 2021.

"With one in five children in poverty nationwide, there can be no more excuses: the German government must finally deliver on its promises to tackle child poverty," Grosshaus said.