North Macedonia child poverty risk reaches 29.5%

Data from UNICEF and the State Statistical Office for 2024 reveal that nearly 120,000 children in North Macedonia, or 29.5% of those under age 17, are at risk of poverty. This information was released in observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The general poverty risk rate in the country stands at 21.9%, meaning more than one in five citizens live below the established poverty threshold. Vulnerability is significantly higher among specific groups: single-parent households face a 45.8% risk, while families with two adults and three or more children face a 54.8% risk. Among the unemployed, the rate is 45.7%, compared to 7.9% for employed individuals and 12% for pensioners.

If pensions and social transfers were excluded from calculations, the poverty risk rate would rise to 39.4%. Despite social protection reforms implemented in 2019, UNICEF notes that child poverty remains high due to rising living costs and insufficient support for families. The organization has proposed expanding child benefits and better targeting financial aid toward the most vulnerable households.