The 2013 Survey on Income and Living Conditions revealed that the monetary at-risk-of-poverty rate stood at 15.7 per cent. The at-risk-of-poverty rate among persons under 18 stood at 24.0 per cent. This rate stood at 14.9 per cent for those aged 65 and over.
The National Statistics Office has said that the data show the average household gross income and the mean disposable income stood at €28,379 and €23,498 respectively. The household disposable income was used for the computation of the median national equivalised income (NEI) and the monetary at-risk-of-poverty threshold.
The latter rose by 5.6 per cent when compared to the previous year, reaching €7,256.
The survey showed that 64,966 persons living in private households, or 15.7 per cent, had an equivalised income below this threshold, and were considered to be at-risk-of-poverty. The S80/S20 ratio, which compares the earnings, in NEI, of the richest and poorest 20 per cent of the population, stood at 4.1.
Persons living in single parent households were found to be more susceptible to being at-risk-of-poverty. In fact, 41.9 per cent of these persons had an NEI below the at-risk- of-poverty line. A notable difference between the at-risk-of-poverty rates exists between households with and without dependent children. Figures stood at 19.7 and 11.3 per cent respectively.
The at-risk-of-poverty rate decreased as household work intensity went up. This rate ranged from 65.2 per cent among persons living in households with very low work intensity, to 1 per cent for those in households with a very high work intensity.
Over half the surveyed population were living in households which claimed that not all household members could afford to pay for a one-week annual holiday away from home.
In addition, 23.3 per cent reported they could not afford to keep their home adequately warm in winter, while 22.8 per cent could not afford to face unexpected financial expenses. The severe material deprivation rate stood at 9.5 per cent.
The at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate stood at 24.0 per cent in 2013. This indicator takes into account the at-risk-of-poverty rate, the severe material deprivation rate and the share of persons living in households with very low work intensity.