This means that their income after social transfers was below the poverty threshold (i.e. their remaining income is below 60% of the national median income). Data show that children and elderly people face a higher risk of falling into poverty (20% of those aged up to 17 years and 19% for people over 65 years).

In order to draw a broader picture of social exclusion in the EU, the ‘at risk of poverty’ rate, which is a relative measure of poverty, can be complemented by the material deprivation rate. The latter, Eurostat suggests, describes social exclusion in more absolute terms. It is defined as the enforced lack of at least three of nine items (capacity to have a full meal every second day, ability to afford holidays, heating, etc). In 2008, 17% of the EU27 population was materially deprived according to this definition.

Amongst other individual items defining material deprivation, it appears that in 2008, 10% of the EU 27 population could not afford to keep their home adequately warm. It is also interesting to take a closer look to the housing dimension of material deprivation: on average in the EU 27 17% of the population was reported to have leaking roof, damp walls, floors or foundation, or rot in window frames of floor; 3% of Europeans do not have a bath or shower in dwelling and 4% lack an indoor flushing toilet.

(Source: Eurostat news release, 18/01/2010, and Eurostat database on ‘Living conditions and welfare’)
Link: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/eurostat/home/