Bucharest–Ilfov, among the European regions with the lowest share of people at risk of poverty. What Eurostat data shows
By Bucharest Team
- Articles
The Bucharest–Ilfov region ranks among the European areas with the lowest percentage of people at risk of poverty, according to the latest data published by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat). In 2024, only 3.7% of residents in this region were considered at risk of poverty—the lowest rate recorded in the European Union at regional (NUTS 2) level and well below the EU average.
European figures: the broader context
Across the EU as a whole, around 16.2% of the population—equivalent to 72.1 million people—were exposed to the risk of poverty in 2024, the same proportion as in 2023, according to Eurostat data.
Large regions with very high poverty risk rates include ultraperipheral areas such as French Guiana (over 50%) as well as Spanish and Italian regions with particularly high shares. By contrast, Bucharest–Ilfov stands out for its very low level of vulnerability to poverty.
Why this is significant
This performance places the Bucharest–Ilfov region ahead of many other developed regions in Europe in terms of protection against poverty. In comparison, other EU territories have much larger segments of their population exposed to this economic and social risk.
Significant differences within Romania
The data also highlights major regional disparities in Romania when it comes to the risk of poverty:
- Bucharest–Ilfov: 3.7%
- West: 13.3%
- North-West: 14%
- South-Muntenia: 17.4%
- North-East: 26.4%
- South-East: 26.8%
- South-West Oltenia: 29.8%
While the capital and its metropolitan area remain remarkably well protected from poverty, other regions of the country face considerably higher levels of risk, reflecting internal economic disparities.
What else the data shows
Besides Bucharest–Ilfov, other EU regions with very low poverty risk rates include Province Oost-Vlaanderen in Belgium (5.4%) and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen in Italy (5.9%).
These figures suggest that not only overall economic development matters, but also the structure of the labor market, social policies, and access to services across different parts of Europe in determining how protected—or vulnerable—people are to poverty.
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The Bucharest–Ilfov region not only has one of the most dynamic economies in Romania, but also ranks among the EU’s most “secure” regions in terms of poverty risk—a strong contrast to the situation in many other European regions.
