Cypriots living at risk of poverty reach 128 thousand

In 2008 the number of Cypriots living at the risk of poverty stood at 128.000 people or 16,2% of the population.

At the same time, 64.000 people or 8,2% of the population were severely materially deprived, meaning that they had living conditions constrained by a lack of resources such as not being able to afford to pay their bills, keep their home adequately warm, own a car or a telephone.

Eurostat data released on Sunday show that 81 million Europeans or 16,5% of the total EU population were at risk of poverty, while after social transfers, meaning that their disposable income was below their national at-risk-of-poverty threshold, while 41,5 million (or 8,7% of the population) were severely materially deprived.

The same data show that in Greece, 20,1% of the total population was at the risk of poverty in 2008. This is the highest rate among Eurozone members and the fourth highest percentage in the EU, following Latvia (25.6%), Romania (23,4%) and Bulgaria (21,4%).

Severely materially deprived persons have living conditions constrained by a lack of almost half of the following resources and items: Not be able to afford to pay rent/mortgage or utility bills, to keep home adequately warm, to face unexpected expenses, to eat meat, fish or a protein equivalent every second day, a one week holiday away from home, a car, a washing machine, a colour TV, or a telephone.

According to EU definition, persons at risk of poverty are those living in a household with a disposable income 60% below the national risk-of-poverty threshold.

Eurozone poverty rate in 2008 were as follows: Cyprus 16,2%, Greece 20,1%, Belgium 14,7%, Germany 15,2%, Ireland 15,5%, Spain 19,6%, France 13,1%, Italy 18,7%, Luxembourg 13,4%, Malta 14,6%, Netherlands 10,5%, Austria 12,4%, Portugal 18,5%, Slovenia 12,3%, Finland 12,2%.