According to data from Eurostat, 16.3% of the EU population lives with incomes below the poverty threshold, a level that remains almost unchanged compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, Albania continues to rank among the countries with the highest levels of risk of poverty and social exclusion. Data from INSTAT and Eurostat show that around 40.5% of Albanians are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, nearly twice the European Union average.

The situation appears even more concerning for families with children, where the risk level reaches 44.5%.

According to the statistics, many Albanian families struggle to cover basic living expenses, monthly bills, or unexpected costs, while a considerable portion of the population lives in households with very low employment levels.

One of the most alarming indicators is related to children. Albania ranks as the European country with the highest level of children under the age of six at risk of poverty, reflecting the economic difficulties faced by young families.

Experts link the situation to high living costs, low wages, and emigration. The data show that the economic growth of recent years has not been reflected equally in the well-being of citizens, while inequalities remain particularly pronounced in rural areas and among large families.