In 2016, the highest material and social deprivation rate, applying to about half of the population, was registered in Romania (50%) and Bulgaria (48%), followed by countries where 1 in 3 persons was affected: Greece (36%), Hungary (32%) and Lithuania (29%), Eurostat informs.
In contrast, the Nordic Member States and Luxembourg reported the lowest shares of material and social deprivation: 3% in Sweden, 4% in Finland, 5% in Luxembourg and 6% in Denmark.
Last year, 16% of the EU population (75 million people) suffered from material and social deprivation.
This means that they could not afford at least five items out of this list:
- face unexpected expenses;
- one week annual holiday away from home;
- avoid arrears (in mortgage, rent, utility bills and/or hire purchase instalments);
- afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish or vegetarian equivalent every second day;
- keep their home adequately warm;
- a car/van for personal use;
- replace worn-out furniture;
- replace worn-out clothes with some new ones;
- have two pairs of properly fitting shoes;
- spend a small amount of money each week on him/herself (“pocket money”);
- have regular leisure activities;
- get together with friends/family for a drink/meal at least once a month;
- have an internet connection.
People with low education affected most
In all EU Member States, the material and social deprivation rate is higher among people with low (lower secondary or less) education level. 1 in 4 people (25%) with low education level in the EU suffer from the material and social deprivation, while this rate drops to 1 in 7 (14%) for those with upper secondary education and further to 1 in 20 (5%) among people with higher (tertiary) education, the Eurostat release concludes.