Poverty Risk Falls in Slovakia Despite Single-Parent Families Facing Worsening Conditions

Slovakia's poverty risk rate declined to 16.7 percent in 2023, marking the first decrease in five years despite economic pressures from high inflation and government austerity measures. However, the situation deteriorated significantly for vulnerable groups, with nearly half of single-parent households now facing poverty risk. While the overall poverty and social exclusion rate dropped across the country, families with children, particularly those headed by single parents, experienced a sharp increase in economic hardship. The contrasting trends highlight growing inequality within Slovak society, as general economic conditions improved while the most vulnerable family structures fell further behind.