Europe, 1 in 4 children at risk of poverty: there are 20 million

BRUSSELS - The number of girls, boys and families living in conditions of poverty and social exclusion is alarmingly increasing, due to the cost of living, the climate crisis and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Europe is one of the wealthiest regions in the world, nearly 20 million children live in poverty, according to the humanitarian organization Save the Children. In 2021, the number of children at risk of poverty rose by 200,000 to 19.6 million, according to a new report from the organization. One in four children in Europe has been affected, says the report. The rising cost of living and the COVID-19 pandemic have been cited as the main drivers of the development.