Statistics Explained

Archive:Living conditions statistics introduced

Eurostat data on living conditions and welfare aims to show a comprehensive picture of the current living conditions in the European Union (EU), covering variables related to income, poverty, social exclusion and other living conditions – all social exclusion and housing condition information is collected at the household level.

The demand for information on living conditions and welfare received a new impetus following the social chapter of the Amsterdam Treaty (1997) which became the driving force for EU social statistics. This impetus was reinforced by successive European Councils that have kept the social dimension high on the political agenda.

At the European level, data comes from three different sources:

Poverty and social exclusion are de facto multidimensional problems. Therefore a subset of so-called ’social cohesion indicators’ has been developed within the structural indicators to monitor them effectively at a European level. Additionally, a broader portfolio of social inclusion indicators are calculated under the Open Method of Coordination for Social Protection and Social Inclusion.

Further Eurostat information

Publications

Main tables

Income and living conditions
Social protection

Database

Consumption expenditure of private households (hbs)
Income and living conditions (ilc)
Social protection (spr)
Indicators
Social inclusion

Dedicated section

See also