Brussels, 02/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - In 2007, one third of the EU27 population lived in a household that could not afford an unexpected expenditure, corresponding in each member state to a set share of the national at-risk-of-poverty threshold. The national at-risk-of-poverty threshold is fixed at 60% of the national average revenue per adult-equivalent, these amounts being, for example, €1,400 in Luxembourg, €800 in Belgium, €731 in the United Kingdom, €900 in Finland, €252 in the Czech Republic, €860 in Germany, €550 in Spain, €800 in France, €700 in Italy, €179 in Hungary and €145 in Poland.
These data, published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, on Thursday 28 May, come from the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (EU-SILC). They show that, in 2007, in the EU27, 7% of population lived in a household that had been unable to pay as scheduled utility bills for their main dwelling in the past 12 months, and 3% in a household that had been unable to pay either rent or mortgage payment.
More than half of the population in Latvia and Hungary (both 63%) and Poland (54%) lived in a household that was unable to afford an unexpected expenditure. On the other hand, only one fifth or less of the population lived in such a household in Sweden (18%), Denmark (19%) and Portugal (20%). The highest shares of the population living in households that had been in arrears with utility bills were found in Hungary (18%), Poland (17%), Greece (16%) and Slovenia (11%). The highest shares of the population living in households that had been in arrears with either rent or mortgage were found in Greece (7%), France and Cyprus (both 6%).
Purchase of a car. In 2007, 80% of the EU27 population lived in a household that possessed a car, 9% in a household that could not afford one and 11% in a household that had other reasons not to possess a car. The highest shares of the total population living in a household that could not afford a car were registered in Romania (56%), Latvia (30%), Slovakia (24%), Hungary (23%), Estonia (21%) and Poland (20%), and the lowest in Cyprus and Luxembourg (both 2%), France, Italy, Malta and Slovenia (all 3%), Spain and Sweden (both 4%).
Computers. In 2007, 68% of the EU27 population lived in a household that possessed a computer, 9% in a household that could not afford one and 23% in a household that had other reasons not to possess a computer. The highest shares of the total population living in a household that could not afford a computer were registered in Romania (43%), Latvia (24%) and Poland (21%), and the lowest in Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden (all 2%), Germany, Malta and the United Kingdom (all 4%). (L.C./transl.jl)