Kiddo Comrades: The Reality of Childhood in Contemporary Portugal
Fifteen percent of Portugal's populace comprises minors.
A peek into the numbersPaint a sobering picture: Kids, those under 17, constitute only about 15.7% of Portugal's population, yet the poverty risk for this segment is a staggering 17.8%, a figure that outdoes the general public's risk[1][4].
Over the past three decades, the country has witnessed a shift in patterns: Live births per woman of childbearing age have decreased from 46.5 to 38.8, and the average age of mothers at the birth of their first child has risen from 24.9 to 30.2[1].
Covering the Basics: Health & Education
Regrettably, not all kids born in Portugal get off to the best start. In 2024 itself, about 3.6% of kids missed out on essential dental care, and another 4.5% were held back by long-term health problems when it came to performing age-appropriate activities[1].
Edification, luckily, is not a nightmare in Portugal, but economic hardships often cast a long shadow over educational success.
Leaving Learning for Laughter
Taking a month off to frolic, laugh, and simply 'be' a kid? Sadly, a fifth of Portuguese children can't manage that due to financial constraints[1]. Even participation in extracurricular activities is a struggle for one-tenth of these little folks[1].
Inequality and Poverty: A Not-So-Funny Tale
Income disparity has been a persistent thorn in Portugal's side, with 1 in 5 people wrestling with poverty or social exclusion[2]. The poverty risk is significantly higher for children, single-parent households, and large families[1][2].
Policy Matters: A Public Response to Persistent Poverty
There's a strong call to action to bolster public policies, strengthening them to better tackle these poverty-related issues and enhance the living conditions of children at risk[2]. It's a significant undertaking, yet one that holds the potential to uplift a generation and shape a brighter future for Portugal.
- Despite progress in education, economic challenges often hinder educational success, making it difficult for some Portuguese children to excel academically.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, it's alarming that many children in Portugal are missing out on essential dental care and facing long-term health issues that impact their ability to participate in age-appropriate activities.
- Struggles with income inequality and poverty are not only prevalent among adults in Portugal, but they also significantly impact the health and well-being of children, particularly those in single-parent households and large families.
- In light of these challenges, there is a growing emphasis on strengthening public policies to address poverty-related issues, particularly those affecting child health, education, family-health, and personal-growth, in order to bolster the lives of children at risk and create a brighter future for all of Portugal.
[1] Source: Kiddo Comrades report 2024[2] Source: Portuguese Government Report on Economic and Social Conditions, 2022
