Figures show first absolute drop in poverty rate in 10 years

Figures released by the European Union’s statistics office show that severe material deprivation in Malta dropped to 8.1% in 2015. The figures registered in 2012, 2013 and 2014 was of 9.2%, 9.4% and 10.2% respectively.

In 2015, 8.2% of the EU’s population were severely materially deprived, meaning that they had living conditions constrained by a lack of resources such as not being able to afford to pay their bills, keep their home adequately warm, or take a one week holiday away from home.

The data however also shows that the proportion of persons severely materially deprived in the EU continued the downward trend observed since its peak in 2012 (9.9%).

Over the past 10 years, the rate of poverty in Malta had doubled from 4.3% to 9.2%. The Eurostat database shows that the rate had increased from 17,000 people in 2008 to 37,000 people who were severely materially deprived by end 2012.

By 2015, the rate had gone down by 3,000 persons marking the biggest absolute reduction registered in 10 years. The drop was registered across all ages: government data shows that the drop was registered among elderly persons, working people and children.

The number of persons dependent on social benefits decreased from 10,000 to less than 7,000.

In a statement, the government reiterated its commitment to fighting poverty. It noted that the first real increase in pensions was one way to fight it.