International review of approaches to tackling child poverty: Slovenia

The historical trajectory of key metrics

Economy

Although Scotland’s GDP is nearly four times greater than Slovenia’s ($248 billion^[29] compared to $73.2 billion in 2024^[30]), Scotland’s GDP per capita is only 1.3 times greater ($45,171^[31] compared to $34,544^[32] in Slovenia in 2024). Since 2021, Slovenia’s GDP has grown by approximately 2% each year.^[33] In Scotland, annual GDP grew by 1.2% in 2024.^[34] Slovenia’s government debt was 67% of GDP in 2024.^[35] Although Scotland does not have separate consolidated debt figures, in the UK, it was 96% of GDP in 2023/24, the highest level of public debt since the 1960s.^[36] Slovenia’s government debt peaked in 2015 at 83.4% of GDP – a result of the Eurozone crisis which severely affected Slovenia. During this same period, the UK’s government debt was 89.2% of GDP.^[37]

Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, Surplus (+) / deficit (-) and debt of general government, Debt at the end of the year

The most recent data shows that, in 2023, general government spending in Slovenia amounted to 46.5% of GDP^[38], compared to 51% in Scotland in 2023-24.^[39] The highest category for government spending in Slovenia was social protection which totalled 17% of GDP in 2023,^[40] compared to 11.3% of GDP in the UK in 2023-24 (Scotland-level data is not available).^[41]

Demographic data

Slovenia also has a smaller population compared to Scotland, with populations of 2.1 million^[42] and 5.5 million^[43] respectively. However, the age distributions of the two countries are very similar. The mean ages of Scotland’s and Slovenia’s populations are 43^[44] and 44^[45] years old respectively. The proportions of the population (aged 15-64) that are working-age are also very close: 64.7% of Scotland’s population and 63.4% of Slovenia’s population.

As with many other European countries, Slovenia is facing a rapidly ageing population. In 2024, 22% of Slovenia’s population was over the age of 65. In contrast, just 14 years prior, over 65s made up 16.5% of the population. This trend is reflected in Slovenia’s old-age dependency ratio, which rose from 24 people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age adults in 2010 to 35 per 100 in 2024.^[46] Scotland faces a similar challenge, with 20% of the population being over the age of 65 in 2022, compared to 17% in 2011.^[47]

In Slovenia, the most common family type is a married couple with children, making up 35% of all family types. A third of all families with children are single-parent families and the overwhelming majority of these (80%) are single mothers.^[48] The latest data shows that the average Slovene family has approximately 1.1 children^[49]. In Scotland, as of 2021, no children is the most common family type, making up 32% of all families.^[50] 25% of all families in Scotland are single parents, with 92% of them being led by women.^[51] As of 2022, the average family has 1.69 children with 67% having at least one child in Scotland,^[52] compared to 70% in Slovenia.^[53]

Employment

In 2024, unemployment rates in Slovenia and Scotland were 3.4%^[54] and 4%^[55] respectively. Increases in unemployment rates in both countries are visible from 2009, with Scotland’s unemployment rate peaking at 8.2% in 2010, whilst Slovenia’s continued to rise, peaking at 10.1% in 2013.

Source: ILO modelled estimates (ILOEST), Slovenia; LFS: ILO unemployment rate (YCNN), Scotland

As of April 2025, the minimum wage in the UK is £12.12 an hour,^[56] which is approximately £1,995 a month for a full-time worker. In Slovenia, the minimum wage is €1,278^[57] or €7.52 per hour. The most recent data indicates that, in 2023, 1.2% of employed people in Slovenia were underemployed,^[58] compared to 6% in Scotland in 2021/22.^[59] In-work poverty in Slovenia is amongst the lowest in the EU - at 5.4% as of 2024.^[60] Directly comparable statistics are not available, however, in Scotland, 75% of children and 61% of working-age adults in poverty lived in working households in 2021-24.^[61]

Female labour force participation has remained above 60% in Slovenia since 1990. However, male labour force participation has consistently exceeded female participation, staying above 70%.^[62] A similar trend can be observed in UK and Scotland employment rates.^[63] Similarly, economic activity amongst women in Slovenia is 77.9%, compared to 83.7% amongst men in 2024.^[64] In Scotland, economic activity amongst working-age women has been steadily rising, increasing from 66.8% in 1992 to 73.4% in 2024.^[65]

Source: International Labour Organization

Poverty and inequality trends

Figure 5 below shows changes in the rate of children at risk of poverty in Slovenia between 2007 and 2023. Child poverty rates peaked in 2014 at 14.8% following the Eurozone financial crisis, which impacted on Slovenia’s economy profoundly. Since then, rates have steadily decreased – by 2024, levels had reached levels lower than before the financial crisis.

Source: Eurostat, At-risk-of-poverty rate by age and gender (ilc_li02), Slovenia

In Slovenia, certain groups are at a higher risk of poverty than others. As of 2024, poverty rates are highest amongst over-65s, with 47.9% of households comprised of one adult over 65 being at risk of poverty.^[66] Poverty rates amongst single persons with dependent children are significantly higher than poverty rates amongst households with two adults with dependent children, at 28.8% and 7.7% respectively.^[67] Households without dependent children are much more likely to be at risk of poverty, with 18% of them being at risk of poverty in 2024, compared to 8.9% of households with dependent children.^[68]

Scotland has higher levels of income inequality than Slovenia. Scotland’s Gini coefficient was 35% in 2021-24,^[69] whilst Slovenia’s was 23.8% in 2024.^[70]