In 2021, 95.4 million people in the EU, representing 21.7% of the population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, i.e. lived in households experiencing at least one of the three poverty and social exclusion risks (risk of poverty, severe material and social deprivation and/or living in a household with very low work intensity). This is a slight increase compared with 2020 (94.8 million; 21.6% of the population).
This information comes from data published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on the living conditions in Europe – poverty and social exclusion.
Among the 95.4 million people in the EU that faced the risk of poverty or social exclusion, some 5.9 million (1.3% of the total population) lived in households experiencing all three poverty and social exclusion risks simultaneously.
In 2021, 73.7 million people in the EU were at risk of poverty, while 27.0 million were severely materially and socially deprived, and 29.3 million lived in a household with low work intensity.
Source dataset: ilc_pees01n
The risk of poverty or social exclusion varied across the EU Member States. The highest shares of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion were recorded in Romania (34%), Bulgaria (32%), Greece and Spain (both 28%).
In contrast, the lowest shares of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion were recorded in Czechia (11%), Slovenia (13%) and Finland (14%).
Source dataset: ilc_peps01n
For more information:
- Statistics Explained article on living conditions in Europe - poverty and social exclusion
- Statistics Explained article on EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) methodology - people at risk of poverty or social exclusion
- Dedicated section on income, social inclusion and living conditions
- Database on income and living conditions
Methodological notes:
- EU: data are estimated.
- Italy and Poland: data are provisional.
To contact us, please visit our User Support page.
For press queries, please contact our Media Support.