The 2025 Annual Report of the Social Protection Committee reports a general improvement in 2024 in the social situation in the EU, with a reduction of just over 1 million in the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and of 0.5 million for children. Nevertheless, progress towards the 2030 poverty reduction target remains limited.
This year’s edition of the report contains a section on taking stock of the implementation of the 2019 Council Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed.
The report indicates that economic growth in the EU picked up in 2024, with continued expansion in employment and stable low unemployment, while inflation was generally more subdued than in previous years. Disposable household income grew relatively strongly, with household purchasing power showing further signs of recovery and a decline in the share of people in the EU reporting financial distress, though the later remains high in historical terms.
Reduction in poverty and social exclusion at EU level, but progress towards 2030 target remains limited
The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) in the EU fell by 1.1 million in 2024, and for children by 0.5 million. However, individual Member States showed mixed trends and varying progress towards fulfilling their national poverty reduction targets. Around half of them saw a noticeable reduction in the AROPE population in 2024, but a third recorded a noticeable rise, thus moving away from their poverty target.
Regardless of the positive development in 2024, the overall progress towards the 2030 poverty reduction target remains limited, with a reduction of around 2.7 million in the EU AROPE population compared to 2019. The gap to achieving the overall target is now around 12.3 million, implying that the AROPE population would need to decrease on average by at least 2 million per year until 2030. The progress concerning children is even more challenging, as the AROPE population of children in 2024 was up by 0.25 million compared to 2019.
Positive social developments in many Member States
Compared to 2023, signs of improvement were observed in the situation for many Member States, in various areas. Significant reductions in the share of the population living at risk of poverty or social exclusion in many countries were accompanied by reductions in the shares of people at risk of poverty, experiencing severe material or social deprivation or living in (quasi-)jobless households.
Significant increases in real gross household disposable income along with a notable reduction in income inequalities in many Member States have resulted in an improvement of households’ financial conditions. The situation for children also improved in many Member States, with reductions in the share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion and in their material and social deprivation rate.
However, more mixed developments were observed in some areas, most notably concerning in-work poverty, the risk of poverty or social exclusion among older people, and the effectiveness of social protection systems, while there was very limited improvement in the situation for youth and in the depth and persistence of poverty.
Recent SPC activities with a thematic focus on access to social protection
The report summarises the recent activities of the Social Protection Committee, with a focus on three interlinked main areas of policy work, which also support the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan:
- thematic work
- European Semester
- mutual learning
As its thematic focus, the report takes stock of the implementation of the Council Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed. Member States have made progress across the different strands of the Recommendation, but further action is needed to address remaining and emerging challenges. This includes readiness to adapt the rules and organisation of social protection schemes to ensure that they remain transparent, accessible and adequate for all, and to ensure equal and adequate access to social protection across all types of contracts and employment statuses.
Despite increasing digitalisation and simplification efforts, fragmentation of social protection systems and complexity of rules remain an obstacle. The report emphasises that regular monitoring of implementation, together with policy guidance through the Semester can foster mutual learning and support Member States in their reform efforts.
Country profiles
Country profiles for each Member State are annexed to the report that provide a snapshot of progress towards the national 2030 poverty and social exclusion target, trends in the main social indicators, and the key social challenges and good social outcomes identified for each country.
Background
The Social Protection Committee (SPC) is an advisory policy committee to the Ministers in the Employment and Social Affairs Council (EPSCO).
The Annual Report delivers on the Committee’s core task to monitor the social situation in the EU and the developments in social protection policies in the Member States.
Related links
Details
- Publication date
- 21 November 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion