Overview
- The UCA child poverty report, which was released Wednesday, found 53.6% of children were poor in 2025 and 10.7% were indigent, improving from 59.7% and 17.7% in 2024 but still far above early‑2010s lows.
- Food insecurity affected 28.8% of children last year, including 13.2% with severe shortages, while free meals through schools, community kitchens, or the Tarjeta Alimentar card reached a record 64.8% of children.
- Child health signs are strained, with 19.8% skipping medical or dental care due to costs in 2025 and 61.2% lacking private or union health plans as the public system absorbed more visits.
- Housing deficits remain deep, with 42% of children living without proper sanitation and overcrowding rising to 20.9%, with the highest burdens in poorer areas and Greater Buenos Aires.
- After Wednesday’s findings, officials in Santa Fe and Rosario said school meal use rose about 30% in early 2026, signaling sustained pressure on provincial and municipal support networks.