World Children's Day
20 November, World Children's Day
At the beginning of this year, there were 376,735 children living in Slovenia, representing 18% of the total population. Last year, 72% of households were able to provide their children aged under 16 with paid leisure activities.
World Children's Day is celebrated every year on 20 November. On this day in 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and, in 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United Nations defines children as all persons under the age of 18. World Children's Day is primarily intended to promote and celebrate children's rights and to encourage dialogue for a better world and future for all children.
The number of children has been decreasing in recent years
At the beginning of this year, there were 376,735 children aged 0–17 years living in Slovenia, 194,175 boys and 182,560 girls. Together they represented 18% of the population. In the year of independence, children made up a quarter of the population.
Last year, Slovenia ranked right in the EU average with children representing 18% of the total population. The largest shares of children were recorded in Ireland (23%), France and Sweden (21%). The lowest share in the EU was recorded in Malta and Italy (15%), followed by Portugal and Greece (16%).
The most common name for boys at the beginning of this year was Luka, followed by Nik and Filip. Among girls, the most common names were Eva, Ema and Zala.
Selected goods are available to almost all children
Last year, we monitored the extent to which individual goods are accessible to children aged up to 15 years. In almost all households in Slovenia with children of this age, fruit and vegetables and a meal with meat, fish or vegetarian equivalent were available to them at least once a day (both 99%). The same share (99%) of households could afford toys or games for indoor use (e.g. educational baby toys, building blocks, board games, computer games, etc.) for their children.
Similar was true for access to goods such as outdoor leisure equipment (e.g. bicycle, rollerblades, roller skates, skis, sledges, etc.) and at least one book suitable for the child’s age (both 98%).
Last year, 97% of households could afford new clothes for their children up to 15 years of age, and 99% could afford two pairs of shoes for them.
72% of households were able to provide paid leisure activities to their children
Last year, 97% of households in Slovenia were able to enable their children to go on school trips and participate in paid school activities, and the same share could provide their children with a suitable place to study or do homework. Fewer households were able to enable their children to attend paid leisure activities (e.g. youth organisations, music school, sports and other activities), namely 72%, and 3% of households could not afford them due to financial reasons.
94% of households were able to provide their children with holidays away from home at least one week per year. In 91% of households, children were able to invite friends over for a game and a snack, and in 98% of households, they also celebrated special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, religious or other holidays, etc.
Children's health mostly rated as very good
In 2024, 71% of parents or guardians in Slovenia rated their children’s (aged up to 15) general health as very good, and 25% as good. Almost no parents or guardians rated their children's general health as bad or very bad.
In other EU Member States, parents or guardians also believed that their children's general health was good. As in 2021, parents or guardians in Greece (94%), Cyprus (93%) and Croatia (89%) rated their children's health the best. The lowest shares of parents who rated their children's health as very good were recorded in Latvia (31%), Estonia (47%), and Italy (48%). Slovenia once again (as in 2021) ranked among the countries where parents or guardians gave above-average ratings for their children’s health.
Slovenia has the fewest children at risk of social exclusion
The at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate measures the share of people who are at risk of poverty or severely materially and socially deprived or live in households with very low work intensity.
Last year, there were more than 19 million children (24%) at risk of social exclusion in the EU. The highest rates were recorded in Bulgaria and Spain (35%), followed by Romania (34%). As in 2023, Slovenia recorded the lowest share of children at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion among all EU Member States (12%).
The number of children has been decreasing in recent years
At the beginning of this year, there were 376,735 children aged 0–17 years living in Slovenia, 194,175 boys and 182,560 girls. Together they represented 18% of the population. In the year of independence, children made up a quarter of the population.
Last year, Slovenia ranked right in the EU average with children representing 18% of the total population. The largest shares of children were recorded in Ireland (23%), France and Sweden (21%). The lowest share in the EU was recorded in Malta and Italy (15%), followed by Portugal and Greece (16%).
The most common name for boys at the beginning of this year was Luka, followed by Nik and Filip. Among girls, the most common names were Eva, Ema and Zala.
Selected goods are available to almost all children
Last year, we monitored the extent to which individual goods are accessible to children aged up to 15 years. In almost all households in Slovenia with children of this age, fruit and vegetables and a meal with meat, fish or vegetarian equivalent were available to them at least once a day (both 99%). The same share (99%) of households could afford toys or games for indoor use (e.g. educational baby toys, building blocks, board games, computer games, etc.) for their children.
Similar was true for access to goods such as outdoor leisure equipment (e.g. bicycle, rollerblades, roller skates, skis, sledges, etc.) and at least one book suitable for the child’s age (both 98%).
Last year, 97% of households could afford new clothes for their children up to 15 years of age, and 99% could afford two pairs of shoes for them.
72% of households were able to provide paid leisure activities to their children
Last year, 97% of households in Slovenia were able to enable their children to go on school trips and participate in paid school activities, and the same share could provide their children with a suitable place to study or do homework. Fewer households were able to enable their children to attend paid leisure activities (e.g. youth organisations, music school, sports and other activities), namely 72%, and 3% of households could not afford them due to financial reasons.
94% of households were able to provide their children with holidays away from home at least one week per year. In 91% of households, children were able to invite friends over for a game and a snack, and in 98% of households, they also celebrated special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, religious or other holidays, etc.
Children's health mostly rated as very good
In 2024, 71% of parents or guardians in Slovenia rated their children’s (aged up to 15) general health as very good, and 25% as good. Almost no parents or guardians rated their children's general health as bad or very bad.
In other EU Member States, parents or guardians also believed that their children's general health was good. As in 2021, parents or guardians in Greece (94%), Cyprus (93%) and Croatia (89%) rated their children's health the best. The lowest shares of parents who rated their children's health as very good were recorded in Latvia (31%), Estonia (47%), and Italy (48%). Slovenia once again (as in 2021) ranked among the countries where parents or guardians gave above-average ratings for their children’s health.
Slovenia has the fewest children at risk of social exclusion
The at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate measures the share of people who are at risk of poverty or severely materially and socially deprived or live in households with very low work intensity.
Last year, there were more than 19 million children (24%) at risk of social exclusion in the EU. The highest rates were recorded in Bulgaria and Spain (35%), followed by Romania (34%). As in 2023, Slovenia recorded the lowest share of children at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion among all EU Member States (12%).
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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