Analysis:Almost a quarter of Romania's elderly are at risk of poverty 

Almost a quarter of Romanians over the age of 65 are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, with Romania being above the European Union average for this indicator, according to Eurostat figures for 2025, analysed by the Social Monitor, a project of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation."Almost one in four Romanians over the age of 65 is at risk of poverty and social exclusion. With a percentage of 24.8%, Romania is above the EU average, of 18.3%, and is at the top of the European ranking, along with several states in Southern and Eastern Europe," according to the Social Monitor analysis.The highest rates of risk of poverty and social exclusion among older people are recorded in Lithuania (38.5%), Croatia (37.9%) and Latvia (34.8%), while the Czech Republic (8.1%) and Denmark (8.4%) are at the opposite end.The situation is even more difficult for the 55-64 age group. In Romania, 27% of people in this group are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, which places the country on the fourth place in the European Union, after Lithuania (33.4%), Latvia (28.5%) and Greece (27.5%).Eurostat data also indicate a low participation of elderly people in Romania on the labour market.In 2025, only 57% of Romanians over the age of 55 were gainfully employed, one of the lowest percentages in the EU, despite an increase of six percentage points from 2023-2025.In the European ranking, Romania is surpassed only by Luxembourg (49.5%) and Croatia (54.9%). At the other end of the ranking are Sweden (78.3%), Estonia (77%) and the Netherlands (75.8%).Retirement leads to almost complete exit from the labour market.At European level, the employment rate decreases after the age of 60, and many employees choose to retire before or immediately after reaching the legal retirement age. In Romania, the phenomenon is even more pronounced.According to Eurostat data for 2023, only 0.8% of Romanians who have reached retirement age have chosen to continue working without major changes in working conditions.It is the lowest percentage in the European Union. Romania is followed by Croatia (1.2%), Greece (1.7%) and Spain (1.9%). On the other hand, the highest rates of continuation of professional activity after retirement are recorded in Estonia (45.4%), Latvia (40.7%) and Lithuania (32.9%).Retaining older workers is a solution to reducing the risk of poverty, the analysis reveals."Promoting employment opportunities for people over 55 is essential to reduce the risk of poverty both at the time of retirement and after retirement. This objective can be supported by policies that discourage early retirement and encourage prolongation of working life," the document shows.At the same time, employment policies must continue to support the employment and retention of workers in the middle and towards the end of their careers. In this context, the promotion of lifelong learning and the improvement of the quality of jobs for the elderly remain a priority.