The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) announced today the results of the 2013 Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) of households, with reference income period the year 2012. This survey is the main source for comparable statistics on income distribution and social exclusion at European level.
The study of Living Conditions indicators for the Greek population indicates that material deprivation (i.e. enforced inability to pay unexpected expenses, afford a one-week annual holiday away from home, a meal involving meat, chicken or fish every second day, the adequate heating of a dwelling, durable goods like a washing machine, color television, telephone or car, being confronted with payment arrears -mortgage or rent, utility bills, hire purchase installments or other loan payments), concerns not only the poor population, but also part of the non-poor population.

During the last 4 years (2010-2013), there is an increase in severe material deprivation (i.e., there is an increase of the population that lacks at least 4 out of the 9 material deprivation items mentioned above, due to financial difficulties). This increase is greater at ages 0 – 64 years old than those aged over 65 years old. Specifically, 20.3% of the total population in 2013, faces financial burden with an enforced lack of at least 4, out of potentially 9 material deprivation items in the ‘economic strain and durables’ dimension while this percentage was 19.5% in 2012, 15.2% in 2011 and 11.6% in 2010.

A. At risk-of-poverty rate and poverty threshold

– The poverty threshold amounted to 5,023 Euros per person annually and to 10,547 Euros for households with two adults and two dependent children under 14 years old.

– In 2013, 23.1% of the total population was at risk of poverty, while the risk of poverty threshold is 60% of the median of the total equivalised disposable household income.

– The mean annual income was 9,303 euros per person and the mean annual disposable income of the households of the country was 16,170 euros.

– 892,763 households and their 2,529,005 members are at-risk-of-poverty.

B. Key statistical findings

– The risk of poverty for children aged 0 – 17 years (child poverty) amounted to 28.8%, which is 5.7 percentage points higher than the corresponding percentage for the total population.

– The risk of poverty for people aged 65 years and over was 15.1%, recording a decrease of 2.1 percentage points in comparison with the year 2012

– People living in households with very low work intensity amounted to 1,200,800 persons or 19.6% of the population aged 18-59 years old, while in the previous year (2012) they amounted to 1,010,900 persons.

– At risk-of-poverty population as percentage of each the groups below:

Males in unemployment (50.7%)

Single parent households with dependent children (37.2%)

Inactive population – Other (30.3%)

Children aged 0 – 17 years (28.8%)

Households with one adult aged 65 years and over (24.4%)

Single female households (22.9%)

– Population at risk-of-poverty or social exclusion amounted to 3,903,800 persons or 35.7% of the total population (3,795,100 people in 2012).

– The risk of poverty, using thresholds different than 60% of the median of the total equivalised disposable household income, amounted to:

11.1%, when the risk of poverty threshold is defined at 40% of the median of the total equivalised disposable household income,
16.6%, when the risk of poverty threshold is defined at 50% of the median of the total equivalised disposable household income and,
31.4%, when the risk of poverty threshold is defined at 70% of the median of the total equivalised disposable household income, respectively.