Almost 18 per cent of families were unable to keep their home adequately warm in winter last year for financial reasons, figures out yesterday show.

The survey showed that almost 64,000 people were at risk of poverty

This represents an increase of four percentage points on the previous year.

A survey on income and living conditions published by the National Statistics Office yesterday also shows that nine per cent of families fell behind on payments of mortgages, rents, utility bills and other loans.

This represents an increase of two percentage points on the previous year.

Almost 10 per cent of households could not afford a meal containing meat, chicken and fish every second day, while more than half of families could not pay for a week’s holiday away from home.

The survey showed that almost 64,000 people were at risk of poverty, a marginal increase on the previous year. Of these, almost 17,000 (21 per cent) are children and adolescents under 18.

The income level used as a threshold was €6,517 a year. Families whose income was below this threshold were considered at risk of poverty.

Single-parent families were the most at risk of poverty, with 47 per cent, or 4,500 people, falling below the NSO’s income threshold.

However, when compared with 2010, the number of single-parent families at risk of poverty dropped by seven points.

On average, families had a gross income of under €27,000 with average disposable income – the money left after tax – at €22,000. Both figures increased by three points over the previous year.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com