Spain's severe poverty rate rises despite economic growth, hitting families with children hardest

Despite strong GDP growth and falling unemployment, Spain's rate of severe material and social deprivation rose to 8.1% in 2025, moving the country from 15th to 5th highest in the EU. This contrasts with the EU average, which fell from 9.7% to 6.3% over the same period. Source: Infobae Source: El Mundo (ES)

The new measure

Eurostat has replaced the old 'severe material deprivation' indicator with a broader 'severe material and social deprivation' (CMS) index. The old measure required at least four deprivations out of nine; the new one requires seven out of thirteen and adds social factors like the inability to afford leisure activities or replace worn-out clothes. Source: Infobae Source: El Mundo (ES)

Children hit hardest

Households with children under 16 face the highest deprivation rates. In 2025, 8.5% of these households suffered severe material deprivation (vs. 7.6% national average), and 10.7% suffered severe material and social deprivation (vs. 8.1% national average). Source: Infobae Source: El Mundo (ES)

A European outlier

Spain is one of the few EU countries where severe deprivation worsened over the decade. While most southern European nations saw improvements, Spain joined a group of central and Nordic countries where rates rose or stagnated. Source: El Mundo (ES)