One in three single parents in Sweden is unable to provide enough food for their family, with rising economic inequality hitting children hardest, a survey published Wednesday showed.
“We see that single moms and dads with children who don’t have major incomes have a really, really poor situation in Sweden right now,” Ase Henell, secretary general of the aid association Majblomman, which fights child poverty, told AFP.
“They have to choose between food and clothes, and the kids can’t go to football training or go to music lessons. They lack a social context,” she said.
Sweden has seen several years of high inflation, especially food prices, with many households also burdened with hefty mortgage payments after years of high interest rates.
A survey conducted by Verian between January 30 and February 21 found that 29 percent of single-parent households had “difficulty” feeding their families enough — an increase of nine percentage points from 2024.
The study was commissioned by Majblomman, the Red Cross and Radda Barnen, the Swedish branch of Save the Children, along with the tenants’ association Hyresgastforeningen.
It questioned 1,112 single parents who earned less than 30,000 kronor ($3,000) a month, as well as couples with children who together earned less than 43,000 kronor a month.
“The situation is worsening for people who live on the margins,” said Ulrika Modeer, secretary general of the Swedish Red Cross.
Children are most affected by the economic inequalities and are burdened too quickly with the consequences, the organisations said.
Children know exactly when their parents’ salaries and social benefits are paid, for example, and avoid mentioning activities or excursions that cost money.
In addition, many 16- or 17-year-olds who have just landed their first summer jobs are unable to pay for public transport to get to their workplace.
“Public transport is essential for these families, they can’t afford to get to after-school activities or see their friends,” said Majblomman’s Henell.
“We give them transportation cards so they can have their first salary,” she said.
Her organisation has increased its financial aid for children by 12 million kronor ($1.2 million) in the past two years.
To stem the inequalities, the four organisations called on the Swedish government to increase family allowance payments and index them to inflation, and introduce free leisure activities and public transport for all children.