Kurt Sansone
Poverty on the increase, new figures show
The risk of poverty continued edging upwards last year with official figures showing that more than 61,000 people were living below the acceptable threshold.
The figures were released by the National Statistics Office yesterday just a week after the EU’s statistical agency Eurostat released similar figures pertaining to 2008, which also showed an increase in poverty when compared to the previous year.
Just over 15 per cent of people living in private households were at risk of poverty in 2009, an increase of half a percentage point over the previous year.
The threshold for calculating the number of people who are at risk of poverty stood at €5,961 last year and 61,278 people had an income below this threshold. Of these, 11,891 had an income less than 40 per cent of the threshold.
According to the NSO, people under 18 and those over 65 (21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively) were at greater risk of poverty.
However, despite the higher risk faced by the elderly, those over 65 at risk of poverty dropped by 2.5 percentage points.
The figures also showed people living in households with dependent children tended to face a higher risk of poverty than people in households without children.
The statistics give credence to the concerns raised recently by President George Abela during his Republic Day speech when he said the gap was widening between those who were in the higher income bracket and those whose income did not reach adequate levels.
He expressed concern that a section of society seemed unable to emerge from the dire straits of poverty or the risk of falling below the poverty line.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
7 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
l fenech
Dec 22nd 2010, 05:55
Din mhux sorprisa meta tara il-kondizzjoni u is-sitwazzjoni li qeghdin fiha.
mario aquilina
Dec 21st 2010, 16:10
Or how about a couple with two kids, who complains that they just about make ends meet, no savings, but buys a 200 euro poodle and a fancy doogie box, not including the injections needed, etc, etc. These kind of people, got their priorities wrong. Then they blame the government. I'm a non voter, so do not think that I'm from one side or the other in mentioning the government.
A. Galea
Dec 21st 2010, 13:11
5961 = 497 a month.
Does the income amount include taxes and social security deduction? And why is it that someone earning say,500 a month, isn't considered as being below the poverty line?
With 500 a month a person will have just enough to feed himself, pay the bills and have a shirt on his back. perhaps top up his phone credit. NOT including transporation, mortgage/rent,and DEFINITELY NOT including other dependents on this income - partner/spouse, children, relatives with disability or illness,etc.
They can't afford to celecrate Christmas or their loved ones' birthdays. What a sad existence.
Also, these people certainly don't have it easy when they fall ill - doctors, medicines, days at home not working.
But then what's even sadder is when people with financial poverty experience other types of poverty - social, educational, etc....Not knowing how to manage the little money they have, not having the support of others,lacking the skills to find a decent job that pays better.
What's worse,is hearing about the people who govern this 'democratic' country,who've received a raise which could help feed another 3 families each. And they've probably heard about it on the streets, because they can't afford their tv bills,either.
Paul Sammut
Dec 21st 2010, 12:17
Welcome to the EU poverty club.
J. Portelli
Dec 21st 2010, 11:19
I agree that poverty is a terrible thing, which must be addressed. However I would like to know what percent of these people earning below the poverty level, have undocumented part time jobs, rental income, and investment income from oversees.
There are a lot of so called poor people in Malta, on the dole, yet are driving fancy cars
joe scerri
Dec 21st 2010, 09:21
I guess our MP's do not fall under this category. LOL
Joseph Calleja
Dec 21st 2010, 16:05
Only till the new pay raise comes through.