Poverty in Flanders stuck at 7.8 per cent for fourth year running

Poverty levels in Flanders have shown no improvement for the fourth consecutive year, according to the 2025 Poverty Barometer published on Thursday by Decenniumdoelen, a coalition of anti-poverty groups, trade unions, health insurers and civil society organisations.

The study found that 7.8 per cent of Flemish residents (around 520,000 people) are living below the poverty threshold, a rate unchanged since 2021. The risk is highest among single-parent families, the unemployed, people with a migrant background, low-skilled workers and tenants.

Decenniumdoelen warns that the new federal government’s plans could drive poverty upwards. Proposed measures include capping social assistance, halting planned increases in pensions and sickness benefits, and limiting unemployment benefits over time. According to chair Anne Van Lancker, this could affect 180,000 long-term unemployed people, many of whom may fall back on already overstretched local welfare centres.

The organisation is calling for renewed efforts to raise all social minima above the European poverty line, targeted increases in child benefits, fairer taxation of wealth and income, stronger investment in the social economy, and automatic access to rent subsidies after one year on waiting lists.

It also urges both Flemish and federal authorities to involve people living in poverty when shaping policies and to assess new measures through poverty and social impact tests.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Illustration picture shows food distribution in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}