The Nordic countries are often described as some of the best places in the world to grow up. Yet, Nordregio researchers noted at a recent conference, that the region’s strong reputation does not mean child poverty has disappeared.
“We see that while child poverty rates remain relatively low in the Nordic region compared to the global context, they have risen in recent years in countries such as Sweden and Norway.” Debora Pricila Birgier, senior research fellow at Nordregio, and contributing researcher
Nordregio researchers were speaking at the launch of a new report, “Children and youth at risk of poverty – Nordic approaches to social mobility and remaining challenges”. Debora Pricila Birgier and Maria Bobrinskaya contributed with a chapter reviewing two decades of child poverty trends across the Nordic Region.
What the evidence shows – and where the gaps remain
The chapter highlights the rise of at-risk-of-poverty rates in some countries, alongside the uneven distribution of these risks across demographic and geographic dimension. Children in single-parent households, larger families, and families with weak attachment to the labour market face significantly higher exposure. Emerging patterns also suggest higher risks and vulnerability in some rural areas and among children with migrant background.
The discussions highlighted a Nordic paradox: strong and comprehensive welfare systems co-exist with persistent – and in some cases growing – groups of children living in families with low income. This makes monitoring these developments essential.
How should child poverty be measured?
How child poverty is defined and measured, also emerged as one of the conference’s central debates. Should poverty be understood mainly in monetary terms? How can we capture child material deprivation better? How can definitions remain comparable across countries while reflecting changing social realities?
Speakers underscored the benefits of a clearer and more consistent Nordic framework, in particular:
- A comparable Nordic definition of child poverty
- Stronger use of register-based data for more precise and policy-relevant analysis
- Deeper knowledge about regional and local disparities
In this context, the Nordic Statistics Database offers a valuable contribution.
“By bringing together harmonised national data from across the Nordic countries in a single, accessible platform, it enables transparent comparisons and long-term trend analysis.” Vitor Miranda, Head of Statistics and project manager for the database at Nordregio
What comes next for Nordic cooperation in this context?
Throughout the conference, organised by the Nordic Welfare Centre, Nordic cooperation was framed as a principle as well as a practical advantage. The countries share similar welfare systems, labour markets and demographic trends, and increasingly, similar concerns about rising child at-risk-of-poverty rates and widening regional gaps. These are conditions that make comparison both possible and productive.
Participants emphasised that cooperation does not require constant reinvention. Instead, it calls for careful attention to what already works and asking whether it can be strengthened or adapted across borders.
Nordregio’s contribution
Nordregio’s researchers contributed analytical insights on long-term child poverty trends and disparities across the Nordic Region. By combining harmonised European data with a clear Nordic territorial perspective, we aim to support ministries, agencies and municipalities with robust, policy-relevant knowledge.
Photos: Kaisa Kepsu. Stockholm, Sweden
