Press Release

Roma and Travellers in the EU: more jobs but discrimination persists

Roma woman holding a child
©FRA
Roma and Travellers in the EU have more jobs and better housing than before, but poverty, discrimination and segregation remain widespread, shows a new survey from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). FRA warns that significant gaps remain between Roma inclusion targets set by the EU and the lived experiences of Roma and Traveller communities. EU countries are not likely to meet the targets by 2030.

The latest Roma Survey evaluates whether EU and national Roma inclusion policies have improved Roma and Travellers’ access to their fundamental rights, comparing results with previous FRA surveys. While some areas show progress, major gaps remain between Roma and the general population: 

  • Discrimination: 31% of Roma and Travellers face discrimination because of their ethnic origin – similar to 2016 (26%).
  • Poverty: 70% of Roma and Travellers live in poverty. While this is less than in 2016 (80%), Roma and Traveller families are still four times more likely to struggle with poverty than the general population in the EU. Children are most affected by poverty and economic hardship.
  • Housing: 47% of Roma and Travellers live in damp, dark homes or housing without proper sanitation. This is lower than in 2016 (61%), but far from the EU population average (18%). Overcrowding remains an issue with 83% living in households without enough rooms.
  • Education: 53% of Roma and Traveller children attend early childhood education, more than in 2016 (42%). But it is still much fewer than children in the EU generally (95%). Only 32% finish upper secondary education compared to 84% of pupils generally.
  • School segregation: Segregation in schools remains widespread. 46% of Roma and Traveller children are attending a school where all or most pupils are Roma or Travellers.
  • Employment: 54% Roma and Travellers have paid work – an improvement compared to 2016 (43%) – but employment levels are still far behind the general population (75%). At the same time, 36% of Roma and Travellers felt discriminated against when looking for work - more than double the rate from 2016 (16%).&
  • Gender gap: Only 38% of Roma and Traveller women are in paid work, compared to 69% of Roma and Traveller men.
  • Reporting: Even though their awareness of equality bodies is improving, less than 6% of Roma and Travellers report discrimination. This is much less than in 2016 (16%).
  • Health: Health inequalities remain stark. Roma and Travellers live 8 years (men) and 7.4 years (women) less than people generally in the survey countries. 

The findings reveal that EU countries are unlikely to meet the targets for 2030 set in the EU Roma Strategic Framework on equality, inclusion and participation. Only targets related to access to employment are likely to be met.

EU countries still face the greatest challenges in fighting antigypsyism and discrimination, reducing poverty and overcrowded housing, improving education and ending school segregation, and creating fair job opportunities for women.

The survey results should help countries to develop more targeted measures, such as education and training to support Roma youth and Roma women, thereby improving job prospects and tackling school segregation.

Quote from FRA Director Sirpa Rautio:

“This report shows that antigypsyism continues to devastate the lives of Roma and Travellers in the EU. Better access to housing and jobs is one thing, but living a life free from discrimination and prejudice is another. We cannot accept marginal progress. We cannot accept that another generation grows up in exclusion. EU countries need to do much more to tackle antigypsyism and discrimination to ensure Roma and Travellers can enjoy their fundamental rights fully.”

The report is based on a survey of over 10,000 Roma and Traveller respondents living in 10 EU countries (Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain) and three candidate countries (Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia). Face-to-face interviews took place between June and December 2024. 

FRA previously surveyed Roma in 2008, 2011, 2016 and 2021, and Roma and Travellers in 2019.

For more, please see the findings Q&A or contact: media@fra.europa.eu / Tel.: +43 1 580 30 653