Cyprus has seen a decline in the number of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in recent years, even as major inequalities persist across key social indicators, according to new European Commission findings.
The number of children at risk fell from about 37,000 in 2019 to 26,000 in 2024, a reduction attributed to social‑policy interventions. In its working document “Breaking the cycle of child poverty – reinforcing the European Child Guarantee,” the Commission notes that Cyprus has met its national target, though it describes that target as low in ambition, indicating room for stronger measures.
Housing and energy poverty remain the most troubling areas. Some 62.6% of at‑risk children live in households unable to keep their home adequately warm — the highest rate in the European Union. The gap between at‑risk children and all other children reaches 55.1%.
Early school leaving stands at 11.3%, above the EU average of 9.3%. Despite policy efforts, the report says challenges remain in keeping students in the education system.
Participation in early childhood education has increased, largely through subsidised programmes, but the sector is almost fully privatised, with only 2.6% of facilities publicly run. Access gaps between at‑risk and non‑at‑risk children persist, though they are narrowing.
The report also identifies significant disparities in access to basic services. In some cases, differences in participation in childcare services exceed 20%, affecting equality of opportunity from an early age. In health, Cyprus does not show extreme outcomes, but structural difficulties in access remain, particularly in mental‑health services for vulnerable groups.
The Commission stresses the need for stronger evidence‑based policymaking, noting that limited data availability for certain vulnerable groups hampers monitoring and evaluation of measures — a key issue for designing effective interventions.