Survey shows 9.5 pct Maltese living in poverty

A number of 9.5 percent of people in Malta were living in severely materially deprived households, according to a survey published on Wednesday by Malta's National Statistics Office.

The Survey on Income and Living Conditions carried out in 2013 revealed that 24.0 percent of children under 18 years of age were at-risk-of-poverty. Those mostly at risk lived in households with a very low Work Intensity, at 72.6 percent.

On the other hand, the at-risk-of-poverty rate of children in households with five or more persons was calculated at 28.5 percent, and at 45.9 percent for children living in single-parent households.

With regard to persons aged 65 and over, the at-risk-of-poverty rate was calculated at 14.9 percent. Of these, 71.4 percent owned their home.

According to data obtained from households, 16.7 percent of children were living in households that could not afford to eat a meal with meat, chicken, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every other day. Such a proportion was estimated at 10.7 percent for the population segment aged 65 and over.

Additionally, 26.4 percent of children were living in households that could not afford unexpected financial expenses, compared to 21.3 percent of persons aged 65 and over. Another material deprivation indicator is the ability to keep one's home adequately warm in winter. Endit