In 2024, 26.5% of the population of Romania lived in material and social deprivation, with a major impact on elderly people and children.

According to INS data, in 2024, approximately five million Romanians, or 26.5% of the population, were in conditions of material and social deprivation. The most affected groups were people aged 65 and over (32.9%), followed by those aged 50 to 64 (28.4%) and children aged 0-17 years (28%). Women were more affected than men, with a difference of 2.7 percentage points. Deprivation was prevalent among unemployed individuals (35.5%) and those with low education. Households with dependent children had increased vulnerability, especially those with multiple children. Regionally, the most affected areas were South-East and South-Muntenia. INS emphasized that the lack of financial resources affects the ability to cover essential expenses, and 65% of the population experienced at least one form of economic deprivation. Common issues include the inability to pay for an annual vacation or unexpected expenses.