Around 39 million people in the EU are severely materially deprived
More than 7.5% of the EU population were severely materially deprived, according to statistics from 2016. The peak was recorded in 2012, when almost 10% of the people were in this situation.
Eurostat notes that in 2016, 7.8% of the population or around 39 million people in the European Union (EU) were severely materially deprived. This means that they cannot afford at least four of the following items, which are considered by most people to be desirable or necessary to lead an adequate life: pay their bills; keep their home adequately warm; face unexpected expenses; eat meat regularly; take a one week holiday away from home; a TV; a washing machine; a car; a telephone.
Data from November 2016 shows the proportion of people that were materially deprived was highest in Bulgaria (49.1%), Greece (40.8%), Romania (39.5%) and Hungary (34.8%) among the EU Member States, with more than half of the materially-deprived persons in each of these countries experiencing severe material deprivation. Similarly, in Latvia, Lithuania, Italy and Malta, more than half of those considered as materially deprived experienced severe material deprivation.
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Less than one in ten people in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Nordic Member States and Austria were materially deprived. The same was the case in Iceland and Norway.
Focusing upon severe material deprivation, more than 20% of the population was found to be severely materially deprived in Bulgaria (34.2%), Romania (22.7%), and Greece (22.2%). On the other hand, only 3.7% or less in the Nordic countries, Austria (3.6%), the Netherlands (2.6%) and Luxembourg (2.0%).
Material deprivation refers to a state of economic strain and durables, defined as the enforced inability (rather than the choice not to do so) to pay unexpected expenses, afford a one-week annual holiday away from home, a meal involving meat, chicken or fish every second day, the adequate heating of a dwelling, durable goods like a washing machine, colour television, telephone or car, being confronted with payment arrears (mortgage or rent, utility bills, hire purchase installments or other loan payments).
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