POVERTY-SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN THE EU

En 2017, 112,9 millions persons (or 22,5% of the EU  population) were at risk of  poverty or social exclusion. This means persons were affected by at least one of the following three conditions : risk of poverty after social transfers ( income poverty), severe material deprivation or living in households with very low working intensity.

1. One in four Europeans experiences at least one form of poverty. Forms of poverty include income poverty, severe material deprivation, very low work intensity and social exclusion. Income poverty is the most common form of poverty in Europe, with 43 million of those not able to afford a quality meal every second day. This is known as severe material deprivation.
2. Social exclusion is the lack of social resources and rights available to most people as a result of poverty or being part of a minority group.
3. The poverty line is the minimum level of income needed to secure the necessities of life and differs greatly for each European country. There is an  enormous gap between wealthier and poorer countries in Europe.
4. In 2016, 48.7 percent of people who were unemployed were at risk of poverty. Unemployment also makes people more at risk of severe material deprivation.
5. Poverty in Europe is not limited to those who are unemployed.
6. Women have a higher risk of poverty in Europe.
7. Almost 50 percent of all single parents in Europe are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which is twice as much as the risk for any other household.
8. Foreigner-born residents  are at a higher risk of poverty or social exclusion than native citizens.
9. Children below the age of 18 also have a high rate of poverty or social exclusion, at 47 percent, with 26 million children in the EU living at risk of poverty or social exclusion. 
10. Even with the economy improving, one in three people in Spain still lives in poverty, which is defined as living on €8,000 or less per year. 

% of Population at risk of poverty of social exclusion (2017)

Source : Eurostat

1. Bulgaria : 38.9% (2 296 000)
2. Romania : 35.7% (7 940 000)
3. Greece : 34.8% (3 702 000)
4. Lithuania : 29.6% (843 000)
5. Italy : 28.9% (17 407 000)
6. Latvia : 28.2% (544 000)
7. Croatia : 27.9% (1 159 000)
8. Spain : 27.6% (12 236 000)
9. Hungary : 26.6% (2 465 000)
10. Cyprus : 25.2% (215 000)
11. Ireland : 24.2% (1 135 000)
12. Estonia : 23.4% (305 000)
13. Portugal : 23.3% (2 399 000)
14. United Kingdom : 22.2% (14 359 000)
15. Luxembourg : 21.5% (126 000)
16. Belgium : 20.3% (2 296 000)
17. Poland : 19.5% (7 273 000)
18. Malta : 19.2% (83 000)
19. Germany : 19% (15 516 000)
20. Austria : 18.1% (1 583 000)
21. Sweden : 17.7% (1 765 000)
22. Danemark : 17.2% (980 000)
23. France : 17.1% (10 771 000)
24. Slovenia : 17.1% (345 000)
25. Netherlands : 17.0% (2 864 000)
26. Slovakia : 16.3% (345 000)
27. Finland : 15.7% (849 000)
28. Czech Rep : 12.2% (1 267 000)

POVERTY OF RETIREES IN THE EU

Source : Eurostat

En 2017, the proportion of retirees at risk of poverty in the EU was estimated at 14,2 %. Eurostat defines the threshold where retirees are considered as threatened of poverty when their revenues are below 60% of the median revenue (after taking into consideration social allocation). 

Retirees at risk of poverty (%)

1. Estonia : 46.1%
2. Latvia : 43.7%
3. Lithuania : 36.7%
4. Bulgaria : 32.4%
5. Croatia : 24.5%
6. Malta : 21.8%
7. Cyprus ; 21.6%
8. UK : 19.1 %
9. Germany : 17.5%
10. Sweden : 17.2%
11. Romania : 16.1%
12. Slovenia : 15.9%
13. Portugal : 15.1%
14. Belgium : 13.7%
15. Spain : 12.7%
16. Italy : 12.7%
17. Austria : 12.1%
18. Finland : 11.9 %
19. Czech Rep : 10.8%
20. Netherlands : 10.8%
21. Greece : 9.5%
22. Luxembourg : 9.3%
23. Denmark : 8.6%
24. Slovakia : 7.6%
25. France : 7.0%