In 2008, 17% of the population in the European Union were at risk of poverty, data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU reveals

The highest at-risk-of-poverty rates in 2008 were found in Latvia (26%), Romania (23%), Bulgaria (21%), Greece, Spain and Lithuania (all 20%), and the lowest in the Czech Republic (9%), the Netherlands and Slovakia (both 11%), Denmark, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden (all 12%).

The risk of poverty means that after social transfers the income of those people was below the poverty threshold.

Since 2005, the at-risk-of-poverty rate in the EU has been nearly stable, varying between 16% and 17%. The data is issued in connection with the opening conference of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, organized by the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency of the EU, which takes place in Madrid on January 21 2010.

In order to draw a broader picture of social exclusion in the EU, the at-risk-of-poverty rate, which is a relative measure, can be complemented by the material deprivation rate, which describes social exclusion in more absolute terms, Eurostat notes.

The material deprivation rate is defined as the enforced lack of at least three of nine items4. In 2008, 17% of the EU population was materially deprived according to this definition. The highest levels were registered in Bulgaria (51%), Romania (50%), Hungary (37%) and Latvia (35%), and the lowest in Luxembourg (4%), the Netherlands and Sweden (both 5%).

Individual items defining material deprivation reveal that in 2008, 37% of the EU population could not afford a one week annual holiday away from home, 10% could not afford to keep their home adequately warm, 9% could not afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day and 9% could not afford a personal car.

Regarding children at risk of poverty Bulgaria ranks second in the EU with 26% only after Romania (33%), Italy and Latvia (both 25%) are next, and the lowest child at risk rates are registered in Denmark (9%), Slovenia and Finland (both 12%). In 2008, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for those aged up to 17 years was 20% in the EU.

Elderly people also face a higher risk of poverty than the total population. In 2008, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for those aged 65 years and over was 19% in the EU. The highest rates were observed in Latvia (51%), Cyprus (49%), Estonia (39%) and Bulgaria (34%), and the lowest in Hungary (4%), Luxembourg (5%) and the Czech Republic (7%).

Being employed significantly reduces the risk of poverty. In 2008, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for those in employment was 8% on average in the EU, ranging from 4% in the Czech Republic to 17% in Romania.