Uruguay faces rising child poverty concerns

In Uruguay, Minister of Economy and Finance Gabriel Oddone has described child poverty as a ‘time bomb’ for social coexistence. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, approximately 29.1% of children under the age of six live below the poverty line.

Oddone emphasized the need to strengthen the childhood transfer system through the Accountability Bill currently under parliamentary debate. The government's proposal includes a budget increase of 31 million dollars to combat child poverty, though opposition parties have indicated they will not support the project.

Statistical reports show that while 16.6% of the total Uruguayan population lived below the poverty line in 2025, the incidence is significantly higher among minors, with poverty rates ranging from 26.5% to 29.1% across different age groups.