People at risk of poverty in the EU were more likely in 2025 to report moderate or severe health-related difficulties with basic activities than those not at risk.
Moderate or severe difficulties with walking were reported by 24.9% of people at risk of poverty, compared with 16.9% of those not at risk, Eurostat reported on Wednesday.
Difficulties with remembering and concentrating were reported by 20.6% of people at risk of poverty, compared with 14.5% of those not at risk.
Problems with seeing were reported by 23.8% of people at risk of poverty and 18.9% of those not at risk.
Difficulties with self-care — such as washing or dressing — were reported by 10.1% of people at risk of poverty, compared with 5.8% of those not at risk.
People at risk of poverty also reported more difficulties with communicating, at 7.5% compared with 4.0% among those not at risk.
Smaller gap for hearing difficulties
Differences between the two groups were smaller for hearing, with 12.9% of people at risk of poverty reporting moderate or severe difficulties, compared with 11.1% of those not at risk.
The data relates to 2025 and is based on Eurostat’s dataset on self-reported health-related limitations in basic activities.
