15% of population 'at risk of poverty'

Fifteen per cent of the population were estimated to be on the threshold of poverty in 2008, according to statistics released by Eurostat.

The figure may be slightly better than the EU average of 17 per cent but the island's elderly seem to be in a more vulnerable position, with 22 per cent of those over-65 considered to be at risk of poverty, three per cent more than in the EU as a whole.

According to economic theory, the at-risk-of-poverty rate is set at 60 per cent of the national median income. In Malta this was calculated at €7,800 per household in 2008.

Eurostat said even when including the receipt of social benefits, including pensions in the case of the elderly, 15 out of every 100 Maltese did not live in a household that reached the median income.

Though lower than the EU average, material deprivation was also significantly high among Malta's population.

Eurostat said that in 2008, 13 per cent of Malta's population was considered to be materially deprived, meaning they had difficulties in obtaining three out of a list of nine essential items.

The list includes: the ability to face unexpected expenses; to pay for a one-week annual holiday away from home; keeping up with the bills (mortgage, utility bills, loan payments); capacity to have a meal with meat, chicken, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day; capacity to keep the home adequately warm; and possessing a washing machine, colour television, telephone, and private car.

An annual holiday away from home seems to be the most unattainable "luxury" for the Maltese, according to Eurostat.

The study showed that 65 per cent of the Maltese were unable to commit to an annual holiday. This is one of the highest rates in the EU, surpassed only by Romanians (76 per cent) and Hungarians (67 per cent). Just 37 per cent of the population in the rest of the EU said they could not afford an annual holiday.

The survey showed that 10 per cent of the Maltese population said they could not eat meat, chicken, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, while nine per cent had difficulties in keeping their home warm during the winter.

On a general EU level, Eurostat said the highest at-risk-of-poverty rates in 2008 were found in Latvia (26 per cent), Romania (23 per cent), Bulgaria (21 per cent), Greece and Spain (20 per cent), while the lowest rates were in the Czech Republic (nine per cent) and The Netherlands and Slovakia (both 11 per cent).

This year the EU is commemorating the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion to highlight the difficulties poor people in Europe are facing and stimulating action by member states to help these vulnerable people.