Lithuania poverty risk hits highest level since 2018

Lithuania's poverty risk reached its highest level since 2018, affecting 22.6% of the population in 2025. According to the 2026 Poverty and Social Exclusion Review, this figure represents a 1.1 percentage point increase from 2024 and places the country at the bottom of the European Union regarding poverty risk, which averages 16.3% across the EU.

The report highlights that even employment no longer guarantees protection against poverty, as the risk among working individuals is rising. The most vulnerable groups remain the unemployed, seniors, single individuals, people with disabilities, and single parents. Specifically, elderly women face significantly higher risks, and there is a concerning trend regarding the declining financial status of men approaching retirement age.

In 2025, the poverty risk threshold was set at €699 per month for a single person and €1,468 for a family of two adults and two children. Approximately 653,000 Lithuanians lived below these thresholds. Additionally, the report notes significant income inequality, with the top fifth of earners making nearly seven times more than the lowest earners.