A fifth of the Maltese population was at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2010, a figure that grew marginally over the previous year.

Official statistics show that 15.5 per cent of the population risks facing poverty strictly from a monetary perspective while those facing risk of poverty and social exclusion make up 20.6 per cent.

The statistics were recorded as Maltese households in 2010 registered a drop of one per cent both in gross and disposable incomes.

More than 15.5 per cent of those surveyed fell below the threshold of €6,260 yearly income and were considered to be at risk of poverty.

Compared to 2009, the risk of poverty rate edged up by 0.2 percentage points.

This risk of poverty indicator for Malta remained lower than the EU average of 16.4.

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