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Data from March 2014. Most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database. Planned article update: April 2015.
Table 1: Population at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion, 2007–12 - Source: Eurostat (ilc_peps01)
Figure 1: Number of persons at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion analysed by type of risks, EU-28, 2012 (1)
(million) - Source: Eurostat (ilc_pees01)
Figure 2: Proportion of the population at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion, 2012 (1)
(%) - Source: Eurostat (ilc_pees01) and (ilc_li02)
Figure 3: At-risk-of-poverty rate and threshold, 2012 (1) - Source: Eurostat (ilc_li01) and (ilc_li02)
Figure 4: Material deprivation rate — proportion of persons who cannot afford to pay for selected items, 2012 (1)
(%) - Source: Eurostat (ilc_sip8)
Figure 5: People aged less than 60 living in households with very low work intensity, 2011–12
(%) - Source: Eurostat (ilc_lvhl11)

Social inclusion has long been a key part of the European Union‘s (EU) policies. The overriding goal of EU policy in this area is to reduce substantially the number of people at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion, thereby creating a more inclusive society.

However, as multi-dimensional concepts, poverty and social exclusion cannot easily be measured through statistics. As a result, both monetary and non-monetary indicators have been developed, such as the at-risk-of-poverty rate, the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, the severe material deprivation rate and the share of people living in households with very low work intensity.

There is a range of other indicators that are equally relevant when analysing social inclusion, for example: access to education and training, health, or housing.

Main statistical findings

At-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion

The situation in 2012

In 2012 there were 124.2 million people in the EU-28, equivalent to 24.8 % of the entire population, who lived in households facing poverty or social exclusion (see Table 1). In 2012, the number of people at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion increased by 2.7 million, equivalent to a 0.5 percentage point increase in the share of the total population when compared with 2011.

The results for the EU-28 — calculated as a weighted average of the national results — conceal considerable variations between EU Member States. In Bulgaria, close to half (49.3 %) of the population was considered to be at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion in 2012, while in Romania (41.7 %), Latvia (36.2 %) and Greece (34.6 %) the proportion was more than one third of the population.

More than one quarter of the population was considered to be at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion in eight other EU-28 Member States in 2012, namely Lithuania (32.5 %), Hungary (32.4 %), Croatia (32.3 %), Italy (29.9 %), Spain (28.2 %), Cyprus (27.1 %), Poland (26.7 %) and Portugal (25.3 %). Those Member States with the lowest proportions of their populations considered to be at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion in 2012 were the Netherlands (15.0 %), the Czech Republic (15.4 %) and Sweden (15.6 %); Iceland (12.7 %) and Norway (13.8 %) also reported a relatively low share of their respective population as being at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion.

In 2012, there were 18.2 million persons at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion in Italy, 15.9 million persons in Germany and 15.1 million persons in the United Kingdom; these were the three highest levels in the EU-28 and together equivalent to slightly less than two fifths (39.6 %) of the EU-28 total. There were between 10 and 13 million persons at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion in Spain, France and Poland in 2012.

The developments between 2011 and 2012 show that the proportion of the population at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion fell in Latvia, Finland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden, Poland, Germany, France and Slovakia, while in Croatia the share remained stable. All of the remaining EU Member States reported an increase in the proportion of persons at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion during 2012. By far the largest increases occurred in Greece (up 3.6 percentage points) and Cyprus (up 2.5 percentage points).

In absolute terms, the developments between 2011 and 2012 in Italy and the United Kingdom had the greatest upward impact on the number of persons considered to be at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion in the EU-28 as a whole, although for the United Kingdom this may, at least partly, be attributed to methodological changes causing a break in series in 2012. Nevertheless, these two Member States reported increases in the number of people at-risk-of poverty or social exclusion between 2011 and 2012 of about 1 million people.

Medium-term developments

Looking further back, at all of the years presented in Table 1, the proportion of the EU-27 population that was at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion fell from 24.4 % in 2007 to 23.2 % in 2009, before rising again to 24.7 % in 2012. The shorter time series for the EU-28 displays a similar development between 2010 and 2012. Many of the EU Member States displayed a similar development to that of the EU-27: a relatively high proportion of the population at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion in 2007, with a fall to a low point in 2008, 2009 or 2010; and a rising share during the period 2010–12; examples include Belgium and Greece. Developments in Slovenia, Austria and the United Kingdom were slightly different from the general pattern, insofar as the proportion of persons at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion increased through until 2008, but thereafter the pattern was similar to that of many other Member States, with a fall to a low point in 2009 or 2010, before increasing again. A further six Member States initially experienced a similar pattern of developments, but with the proportion of the population that was at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion starting to fall again in 2012 (for example in Finland and the Netherlands) or exceptionally in 2011 in the case of Lithuania.

The main exception to this general pattern was Poland where the proportion of persons at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion fell throughout the period under consideration, as was the case in Germany apart from a small increase in 2011 as well as in Romania apart from a relatively large increase in 2012. Malta, Ireland (data for 2012 are not yet available) and Spain displayed the opposite development to that for Poland, namely the proportion of persons at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion increased each year as was also the case in Sweden until 2012 when a decrease was recorded. The developments in Estonia, Portugal and Luxembourg were less regular with increases and decreases in the proportion of the population that was at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion alternating most or all years between 2007 and 2012. Despite a recent increase in the proportion of the population at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion, the values recorded in 2012 were lower than the values recorded in 2007 in 18 of the 26 Member States for which the full time series are available. The largest overall falls were recorded for Bulgaria and Poland (where the rate was reduced by more than 7.0 percentage points), but these may, at least in part, reflect methodological changes causing a break in series in 2008. The next largest fall was recorded for Romania (down 4.2 percentage points). The largest overall increases were recorded in Greece (up 6.3 percentage points) and Spain (up 4.9 percentage points).

Analysis by type of risk

The overall risk of facing poverty or social exclusion is made up of three types of risk: being at-risk-of poverty; facing severe material deprivation; and/or living in a household with very low work intensity — see Figure 1. People are considered to be at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion if they face at least one of these risks — although 32.4 % of those people at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion within the EU-28 faced a combination of two or even all three of these risks.

In 2012, there were 48.0 million people in the EU-28 living in households that faced income poverty (but neither severe material deprivation, nor very low work intensity), 22.8 million persons experiencing severe material deprivation (but neither of the other two risks) and 13.2 million people living in households with very low work intensity (but facing neither of the other two risks). An additional 31.0 million people lived in households facing two out of three of these risks, while a further 9.3 million people lived in households where all three of these risks were present.

Figure 2 provides a simplified analysis for each EU Member State regarding the proportion of the population facing the three risks identified above, showing:

  • the proportion of people at-risk-of-poverty including those living in households that were exclusively at-risk-of-poverty as well as those at-risk-of-poverty combined with either or both of the other two risks; in the EU-28 this amounted to a total of 85.1 million people in 2012;
  • the analysis then shows the additional proportion of the population experiencing severe material deprivation (either as a single risk or combined with living in a household with very low work intensity); in the EU-28 this amounted to a total of 26.0 million people in 2012;
  • the final category shows the proportion of the population living in households that were exclusively characterised as having a very low work intensity (those that were not at-risk-of-poverty, nor experiencing severe material deprivation); in the EU-28 this amounted to a total of 13.2 million people in 2012.

As such, when summing up the three categories shown in Figure 2, the result corresponds to the overall proportion of the population at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion.

At-risk-of-poverty

In 2012, 17.0 % of the EU-28 population was assessed to be at-risk-of-poverty (the monetary dimension of the at-risk-of poverty or social exclusion indicator), with this share ranging from 9.6 % in the Czech Republic to 23.1 % in Greece. Figure 3 also presents an analysis of the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, which is defined as 60 % of median income in each EU Member State — data are adjusted for price differences between countries. At-risk-of-poverty thresholds for 2012 ranged from a high of PPS 15 996 in Luxembourg down to less than PPS 4 000 in Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia and Lithuania. Social protection systems impact upon the share of the population that is considered to be at-risk-of-poverty. More information on income and poverty is available in an article on income distribution.

Material deprivation and severe material deprivation

Alongside income-related measures of poverty, a broader perspective of social inclusion can be obtained by studying other measures, for example, those relating to material deprivation. An analysis of material deprivation provides an analysis based on absolute numbers rather the relative measures used for income poverty. The definition of material deprivation is based on the inability to afford a selection of items that are considered to be necessary or desirable, namely: having arrears on mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, hire purchase instalments or other loan payments; not being able to afford one week’s annual holiday away from home; not being able to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day; not being able to face unexpected financial expenses; not being able to buy a telephone (including mobile phone); not being able to buy a colour television; not being able to buy a washing machine; not being able to buy a car; or not being able to afford heating to keep the house warm. The material deprivation rate is defined as the proportion of persons who cannot afford to pay for at least three out of the nine items specified above, while those who are unable to afford four or more items are considered to be severely materially deprived. Almost one in five (19.7 %) members of the EU-28 population was materially deprived in 2012, with just under half of these (9.9 % of the total population) being considered as experiencing severe material deprivation. The proportion of people that were materially deprived was highest in Bulgaria (61.6 %), and Romania (48.0 %) among the EU Member States, with more than half of the materially deprived in each of these countries experiencing severe material deprivation. Similarly, in Latvia (44.5 %) and Hungary (44.0 %) (which reported the next two highest material deprivation rates) more than half of those considered as materially-deprived experienced severe material deprivation, as was also the case in Greece, Italy, Lithuania and Belgium. Less than one in 10 people in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and the Nordic Member States were materially deprived and in the same EU Member States 4.0 % or less of the entire population was considered to be severely materially deprived (see Figure 4), as was also the case in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Work intensity

Being in employment is generally an effective way to insulate oneself from the risk of poverty. The indicator covering people living in households with a very low work intensity is defined as those people aged less than 60 who are living in households where adults worked less than 20 % of their total work potential during the year prior to the survey; these people are more likely to be exposed to social exclusion. In 2012, 10.3 % of the EU-28’s population aged less than 60 lived in households with very low work intensity, which represented a slight decrease when compared with 2011 (10.4 %). In 2012, the proportion of people below the age of 60 living in households with very low work intensity was over 12.0 % in Bulgaria, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Greece and Spain, while Croatia reported the highest proportion (16.2 %); note that 2012 data for Ireland are not available but in 2011 the proportion of people below the age of 60 living in households with very low work intensity was 24.2 %. The fastest expansion in the proportion of persons aged less than 60 living in households with very low work intensity between 2011 and 2012 was reported in Greece (up 2.2 percentage points), followed by Portugal (up 1.8 percentage points), and Cyprus (up to 1.6 percentage points). Among the EU Member States, those countries that reported in 2012 the lowest proportions of people living in households with very low work intensity included Sweden (5.7 %) and Luxembourg (6.1 %); Switzerland also recorded a relatively low proportion (3.4 %) as did Iceland (6.1 %).

Data sources and availability

EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) are the source of information for statistics relating to income, living conditions and social inclusion. More information on EU-SILC, the calculation of household disposable income, as well as the calculation of household size using the number of ‘equivalent adults’, is provided in an article on income distribution statistics.

Context

At the Laeken European Council in December 2001, European heads of state and government endorsed a first set of common statistical indicators relating to social exclusion and poverty that were subject to a continuing process of refinement by an indicators sub-group that is part of the social protection committee. These indicators are an essential element in the open method of coordination to monitor the progress of EU Member States in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. In May 2006, the social protection committee adopted a portfolio of overarching indicators complemented by specific indicators on social inclusion, pensions and health.

‘The European platform against poverty and social exclusion: a European framework for social and territorial cohesion (COM(2010) 758 final) is one of the seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth adopted in 2010. The goals are to:

  • ensure economic, social and territorial cohesion;
  • guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, and enable them to live in dignity and take an active part in society;
  • mobilise support to help people integrate in the communities where they live, get training and help them to find a job and have access to social benefits.

In the context of the Europe 2020 strategy, the European Council adopted in June 2010 a headline target on social inclusion. EU-SILC is the source for this indicator concerning people at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion which combines three sub-indicators: the at-risk-of-poverty rate, severe material deprivation rate and people living in households with very low work intensity. One of the headline targets set to measure progress in meeting the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy is for the EU-27 as a whole to have at least 20 million fewer people at-risk-of poverty or social exclusion by 2020.

One leading initiative, in respect to the Europe 2020 headline target, has been a Communication of the European Commission relating to a series of ‘national Roma integration strategies’ (COM(2012) 226 final). The strategies seek to highlight the situation of the Roma — considered to be Europe’s largest minority group, of which there are thought to be between 10 and 12 million persons — and to ensure a tangible improvement in relation to their integration and inclusion in society. Proposed measures aim to highlight the fight against poverty and social exclusion, raise employment levels, and reduce school drop-out rates, all three of which are headline targets within the Europe 2020 strategy.

See also

Further Eurostat information

Publications

Main tables

  • Living conditions and welfare (t_livcon), see:
Income and living conditions (t_ilc)

Database

  • Living conditions and welfare (livcon), see:
Income and living conditions (ilc)
People at risk of poverty or social exclusion (Europe 2020 strategy) (ilc_pe)
Main indicator - Europe 2020 target on poverty and social exclusion (ilc_peps)
Intersections between sub-populations of Europe 2020 indicators on poverty and social exclusion (ilc_pees)
Income distribution and monetary poverty (ilc_ip)
Monetary poverty (ilc_li)
Living conditions (ilc_lv)
Health and labour conditions (ilc_lvhl)
Material deprivation (ilc_md)
Material deprivation by dimension (ilc_mddd)

Dedicated section

Methodology / Metadata

Source data for tables and figures (MS Excel)

Other information

  • Regulation 1177/2003 of 16 June 2003 concerning EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC)
  • Regulation 1553/2005 of 7 September 2005 amending Regulation 1177/2003 concerning EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC)
  • Regulation 1791/2006 of 20 October 2006 adapting certain Regulations ... in the fields of ... statistics ..., by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania

External links


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