Poor people in Malta are on the increase, according to new data published in Brussels yesterday.

The EU’s statistics office said that last year 22.2 per cent of the population were at risk of poverty and social exclusion, almost one per cent more than 2011. The figure is still slightly less than the EU average.

Eurostat estimates that in 2012 there were 62,000 Maltese people in a state of ‘serious poverty living in households earning less than €131 a week.

More than half – 33,000 – are ‘severely materially deprived’, meaning they are not in a position to do three out of nine basic things such as own a car, a washing machine or a colour TV, or have difficulties in paying their mortgage or utility bills.

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