Cyprus had 17.1 percent of its population at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, below the EU average of 20.9 percent.

Cyprus reduced its at-risk-of-poverty rate for children to 14% in 2025, down from 22.1% in 2019, one of the largest improvements among EU member states.

Cyprus' 17.1 percent rate is below the EU average but higher than the bloc’s lowest-risk regions, underscoring substantial regional disparities in poverty and social exclusion across the EU.

Improvements credited to increased participation in early childhood care and education and to a tuition and nutrition subsidy scheme that can cover up to 80% of costs and provide up to €350 per month.

Five regions exceeded twice the EU average for child poverty, led by French Guiana (54.8%), Calabria (45.3%), Sicily (44.0%), Melilla (43.7%), and Réunion (42.3%).

The same pattern of regions exceeding twice the EU average is repeated, with French Guiana at 54.8% and Calabria, Sicily, Melilla, and Réunion following in that order.

Eligible children in Cyprus under the scheme increased by 40%, totaling 10,596 children across 357 care facilities.

Regional variation is significant: 24 EU regions had at least 31.5 percent of residents at risk, located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France, Romania, and two western urban regions (Brussels and Bremen).

The decline from 2019 to 2025 is among the largest improvements, similar to Romania and Lithuania.

The study is titled “Strengthening the European Child Guarantee: an overview of lessons learnt and best practices from the EU Member States,” prepared by the European Parliament Policy Department and Eurofound for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.

Participation in early childhood care and education for children under three at risk of poverty or social exclusion rose to 26.5% in 2024 from 6.8% in 2019.

At the EU level, child poverty remained high at 24.3% in 2025, up 0.6 percentage points since 2019, though more than half of EU member states reported improvements.