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08. 02. 12. - 15:00

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08. 02. 12. - 15:00

Almost half of Romanians live in poverty

Romanian Times

Almost half of the Romanians (8.89 millions) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat data published today (Weds).

Eurostat says the highest percentage of the population at risk from poverty or social exclusion is in Bulgaria - 42 per cent, followed by Romania - 41 per cent. The two countries both joined the European Union in 2007.

The lowest levels of risk of poverty are registered in Austria, Finland and Luxembourg (17 per cent).

The statistical office of the European Union says that 16 per cent of the population in the European Union states is at risk of income poverty after social transfers, meaning that their disposable income was below their national at-risk-of-poverty threshold. The highest at-risk-of-poverty rates were observed in Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria and Spain (all 21 per cent), and the lowest in the Czech Republic (9 per cent).

Also, thirty-one per cent of Romanians were severely materially deprived, meaning that they had living conditions constrained by a lack of resources such as not being able to afford to pay their bills, keep their home adequately warm, or take a one week holiday away from home. The highest percentage in this case was registered in Bulgaria - 35 per cent, while the lowest - in Sweden and Luxembourg (1 per cent).

The report was based on 2010 statistical data.

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