1 in 4 children at risk of poverty in Luxembourg

Across the globe, many children continue to grow up in conditions where even their most fundamental needs such as sufficient food, clean drinking water, or safe housing are not guaranteed.

Progress has stalled in recent years as conflicts, wars, the climate crisis, and a decline in international aid have limited any potential for improvements.

Rising rental costs heighten poverty risks

Even in Luxembourg, the situation has remained largely unchanged: one in four children, which is roughly 30,000 children in Luxembourg, live at risk of poverty. Rising rental costs, particularly for single-parent households, mean that many families are forced to spend half of their income on housing alone.

In their recently published report, Unicef states that child poverty is not inevitable and that by implementing targeted policies, governments can prevent these risks from getting worse. The report also includes a list of concrete recommendations.

Guaranteeing children's basic needs

The report recommends expanding family allowances, particularly for vulnerable households, to ensure that parents are in a position to meet their children’s basic needs.

A more inclusive and flexible parental-leave system would also help, enabling low-income families to make use of the scheme. In addition, Unicef Luxembourg recommends that free childcare, especially for children aged one to four, would reduce financial pressure on households while strengthening equal opportunities.

According to the organisation, such measures could lower the child poverty risk from one quarter to just one tenth.

As in previous years, Unicef Luxembourg is marking World Children’s Day with workshops, conferences, and the GoBlue campaign, during which buildings across the country are lit up in blue. The campaign serves as a clear reminder that children’s rights must remain central to our collective awareness.