Poland was the leader in reducing poverty among its citizens in recent years, according to data published by Eurostat. The percentage of Poles facing risk of poverty fell by 3.1 percentage points in 2008-2011.

Still, 27.2 percent of the overall population in Poland faces the risk of falling into poverty, placing the country 10th-worst in Europe. The European average was 24.2 percent.

The situation in Europe looks worse for children and teenagers under the age of 18, the age group most exposed to poverty. In Poland the percentage of minors at risk was 29.8, above the European average of 27 percent.

In most European countries, the percentage of people at risk of poverty grew in 2008-2011. Bulgaria's population has the highest percentage of people at risk of falling into poverty, with 49.1 percent. The countries which have the smallest percentage of people at risk in Europe are Iceland, with 13.7 percent and Norway, with 14.6 percent.

Poland A.M.