One in five at risk of poverty or social exclusion - NSO
A fifth of the Maltese population was at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2010, the National Statistics Office said.
It said that statistics on income and living conditions revealed a monetary 'at-risk-of-poverty' rate of 15.5 per cent and an 'at-risk-of-poverty' or social exclusion' rate of 20.6 per cent.
Households reported an average gross income of €25,968 and an average disposable income of €21,847. Both types of income edged down by around one per cent when compared to the previous year.
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for 2010 stood at €6,260. Of the surveyed individuals, 63,474, or 15.5 per cent, fell below this threshold and were considered to be at risk of poverty.
Compared to 2009, the at risk of poverty rate edged up by 0.2 percentage points.
In spite of the trend emerging over the past few years, this indicator for Malta remained lower than the EU average.
Analysis by age group shows that persons aged below 18 and those aged 65 and over were at a greater risk of being poor, with respective rates of 20 per cent and 19 per cent.
On the other hand, the at risk of poverty rate for the 18-64 bracket was estimated at 13 per cent.
Persons living in households with dependent children tended to be at a higher risk than those living in households without - 18 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
At 56 per cent, people living in single-parent households registered the highest at risk of poverty rate. The at risk of poverty rate for those living in households with a work intensity of zero stood at 36 per cent for households without dependent children and 71 per cent for households with dependent children. A negligible at-risk-of-poverty rate was registered among those living in households with full work intensity.
The at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate stood at 20.6 per cent, nearly three per cent lower than the EU average.
A trend similar to the monetary at-risk-of-poverty rate emerged, where the younger age groups tended to be more vulnerable than their older counterparts.
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...
Second group of migrants arrives
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
14 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Tonio Bone
Jan 5th, 18:17
It has been clear for some years that the gap between the lower class and the higher class has widened and that the middle class is slowly dissolving. This does not come as a surprise as it is a trend all over the EU and possibly in all developed countries the world over.
I would not take this subject lightly. It is true that many today live beyond their means but is it just as true that some families find it difficult to put food on the table!
Giovann Demartino
Jan 5th, 15:57
What do we mean by poverty?
Mark. Galea
Jan 5th, 14:11
Fejn hu s-salvatur? Il-leader li ser johrogna mill-faqar? Nispera li jasal qabel Dicembru 2012, inkella jigi ghalxejn ghax ma jibqa xejn x'isalva!! :)
Joe Grech
Jan 5th, 14:05
This news item is proof from the government's own horse's mouth (the N.S.O.) that many Maltese are becoming poorer and poorer with each passing day.
What will the Prime Minister and his Cabinet be doing people wonder? Mind you they themselves have no financial problems whatsoever since they recently gave themselves a rise of 500 euros per week - without telling anybody as they were aware that that their sly action was not legally acceptable at least as far as our national Constitution goes.
Under the P.N. it is only the blue-eyed boys who earn big salaries - that despite their often negative work output.
Jason Vella Tabone
Jan 5th, 16:59
I suggest you become a blue eyed boy them Mr. Grech !!!!!!! mhux ahjar ?
Mario Spiteri
Jan 5th, 13:59
Can the NSO also say how many of these 15.5% "at risk of poverty" have the following in their household:
cars / smokers / mobiles / plasma tv's / computers / airconditioners / frequent hairdresser and nail aritists trips / etc.
I am not saying that there are no real "at risk of poverty" households, and these should be helped. But there are also quite some who play at being at risk of poverty just to suck up our taxes.
N Cutajar
Jan 5th, 14:58
Agree with you 100%
I Bugeja
Jan 5th, 13:13
26k is quite low to be an everage income of a household! ... but 1 in every 5 being at risk of poverty is even worse
Charles Cremona
Jan 5th, 12:26
Housholds in Malta on average income of 26K, who are these households, because I don,t think 26,000 is the average income in Malta.
Charles W. Sammut
Jan 5th, 13:16
Remember this is according to "statistics".
Lies, damned lies and, you guessed it . . . . . . statistics.
j brincat
Jan 5th, 12:18
Now who was he that said that poverty in Malta is only a perception?
(jb)
Mark. Galea
Jan 5th, 14:16
I think that all those writing on these blogs are not in the at-risk-of-poverty bracket ... you understand perfectly what I want to say, and moreover, will poverty be solved? By reducing electricity and water bills? OR by increasing work opportunities?
I firmly believe that there are people in Malta that are really in the poverty bracket, but they are being eclipsed by a large proportion of people that are saying they are poor either to get government help or else just to say so for political reasons. I gauge poverty from belongings/way of life and not from what people say. As for NSO, you know hwo much people declare ...
Jay Oatmon
Jan 5th, 12:12
It would be interesting to know what percentage of those 'at risk of poverty' (all of us?) go down the pub drinking on a regular basis, and wasting what little available cash we have?
I have seen many 'poor breadwinners' propping up the bars very frequently everywhere in the world.
Mr A Grech
Jan 5th, 12:25
you are absolutely right, they should sleep for 8 hours, work for 8 hours and spend the other 8 hours eating crackers and watching tv till it's time to go to bed again. that makes a good recipe for feeling complete