Over 21% of children living at risk of poverty in 2011

Just over one-fifth of children under the age of 18 were found to be at-risk-of-poverty in 2011, compared to 14 per cent of persons aged 18 and over, with the overall at-risk-of-poverty rate standing at 15 per cent.

The children that were mostly found to be at risk were those living in households with zero work intensity, in households made up of 5 persons or more, and in single parent households. A further one-fourth of children were found to be at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion, with the same trend observed as with the at-risk-of-poverty rate.

The at-risk-of-poverty rate for persons aged 65 and over stood at 18 per cent, while the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate for the same age group reached 22 per cent.

71 per cent of persons aged 65 and over who were at-risk-of-poverty owned their own home, while 62 per cent lived in households composed of two persons.

A share of 11 per cent of households with children answered they could not afford to eat a meal with meat, chicken, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every other day, while 30 per cent could not afford to face unexpected financial expenses. In addition 17 per cent could not afford to keep their home adequately warm in winter.

Five per cent of households with children had been in arrears on mortgage or rent payments at least once over the previous 12 months. When considering the replies of those aged 65 and over, 48 per cent reported they could not afford to pay for one week's annual holiday away from home. Another 8 per cent could not afford to eat a meal with meat, chicken, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every other day, 23 per cent could not afford to face unexpected financial expenses and 17 per cent could not afford to keep their home adequately home in winter.

A similar pattern was also observed when considering persons aged 65 and over who were at-risk-of-poverty. Just over 10 per cent of persons aged 65 and over remarked that they lived in an area where crime, violence or vandalism were prevalent, while 43 per cent replied that the area suffered from pollution, grime or other environmental issues.

The S80/S20 ratio, which compares the income earned by the richest 20 per cent of the population to the income earned by the poorest 20 per cent of the population, stood at 4.1 per cent overall, decreasing to 3.7 per cent for persons aged 60 and over, and to 3.3 per cent for persons aged 65 and over.