The share of people in the EU facing severe material and social deprivation fell by 0.4 percentage points in 2024 compared with 2023. According to data released by Eurostat today, the average rate in the EU stands at 6.4% of the total population. More specifically, the rate increased among young people under 18, with 7.9% of them facing severe material and social deprivation, while it fell to 5.1% among people aged 65 and over. The figures also point to gender gaps, with women experiencing higher rates of severe material and social deprivation than men in the 18-64 age group (6.6% compared with 6.2%), as well as in the over-65 age group. The only exception is the under-18 age group, where women are less affected than men (7.7% compared with 8%). There are also significant differences across countries. Indeed, the highest share of people facing severe material and social deprivation was recorded in Romania (17.2%), followed by Bulgaria (16.6%) and Greece (14.0%). By contrast, the lowest rates were recorded in Slovenia (1.8%), Croatia (2.0%) and Poland (2.3%). The average rate in Italy, according to Eurostat, is 4.6%.