Slightly less than 8% of the population lives in a household at risk of poverty
7.7% of the Flemish population lived, according to the EU-SILC-survey of 2022, in a household with a below the Belgian . This is equivalent to about 510,000 persons. It is assumed that households with an income below the poverty threshold run an increased risk of poverty.
These figures are calculated on the basis of the total disposable income of the households in the year prior to the survey. Thus, the figures of the 2022 EU-SILC survey refer to the household incomes of 2021.
The EU-SILC survey was substantially renewed in 2019. Caution is therefore advised when making comparisons with the results of previous years. However, it can be said that between 2019 and 2021, the proportion of people below the poverty threshold seems to be decreasing rather than increasing.
Highest poverty risk among the unemployed and those born outside the EU
In 2022, the differences in the risk of poverty between men and women were limited. The poverty risk was highest among the elderly.
Broken down by household type, the poverty risk was highest among single parent households (19%), single person households (14%) and older couples (13%).
According to socio-economic position, the highest risk of poverty was found among the unemployed (39%). Non-active people without pensioners (18%) also scored relatively high.
The poverty risk was also much higher among tenants (18%) than among house owners (5%).
The poverty risk decreases as the level of education rises. In 2022, this risk was 5% for the highly educated and 16% for the low educated.
Finally, the poverty risk also varies by country of birth. People born in Belgium had the lowest poverty risk (6%), those born outside the European Union (EU27) had the highest poverty risk (26%).
Highest poverty risk in Antwerp
The risk of poverty in 2022 was highest in the province of Antwerp (11%) and lowest in the province of East Flanders (5%).
Poverty risk in Flemish Region lower than in other regions and EU average
The poverty risk in 2021 was lower in the Flemish Region (8%) than in the Walloon Region (17%) and the Brussels-Capital Region (25%). In Belgium, the poverty risk reached 13%.
The share of people below the poverty threshold in 2021 in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU27) was 17%. The at-risk-of-poverty rate was lowest in the Czech Republic (9%). In Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary, too, the share below the poverty threshold was at a similar level as in the Western and Northern European countries, while the standard of living in the first group of countries is still lower. This is related to the fact that this is a relative measure of poverty, calculated on the basis of the income distribution in each country separately.
Figures for 2022 are not yet available for all EU countries.
Sources
- Statbel: EU-SILC survey opens in new window
- Eurostat: Database opens in new window