Last year in the EU as a whole, 41 million people were in this situation, of which 997,000 were living in Portugal.
In its report Eurostat notes that the proportion of EU residents suffering from severe deprivation has been falling since its 2012 peak – when it stood at 9.9 percent of the total population. In 2013 it fell to 9.6 percent, in 2014 to 9.0 percent and last year to 8.2 percent.
In Portugal, the reduction in the rate began later: it peaked at 10.9 percent in 2013, fell slightly the following year to 10.6 percent and again in 2015 to 9.6 percent.
Among member states for which 2015 figures are available – Eurostat lacks data for seven EU members - the highest rates are for Bulgaria (34.2 percent), Romania (24.6 percent) and Greece (22.2 percent). The lowest are for Finland (2.2 percent), the Netherlands (2.5 percent) and Austria (3.6 percent).
The definition of severe material deprivation covers all those whose living conditions are limited by a lack of resources and who are unable, for example, to pay all their bills, heat their home adequately or take a week’s holiday away.
One in ten Portuguese living in poverty
By TPN/Lusa, in News · 21 Apr 2016, 14:49 · 2 Comments
Poverty in Portugal has been silently destructive to many. To my family and me, has destroyed our lives and dreams never to be back again. Do you think that having a one room apartment and going on backpack trips is aiming too much. Well in Portugal it is. I am graduated and experient but aparently i am useless. Just a piece of flesh. The only thing that has been making me able to stay alive is being able to work abroad, but it is not a permanent position. However if i go to Portugal the jobs are horrendous, prisions of live with ridiculous salaries. Many portuguese are doomed. It hurts like hell not to have friends or family around but if i go to Portugal, after all ive been through i just cant accept a horrible 500 euro job. I have physical illnesses like heart condition and others resulting of the crisis. Just hardly go any longer.
By S Maria from Other on 15 Jun 2017, 00:21
If i loose my job, my family will fall under poverty line. However Portugal does not want to help us, because according to their math, each of us falls under around 10 euros, to the need for help. It is unfair. My family is old and sick. We have severe problems. How can i apply for some help from the EU?
By Silvia from Other on 15 Jun 2017, 22:40