The rate of at-risk-of-poverty (ARP) in Malta was slightly up by 0.1 percentage point (pp) to the rate of 16.8%, according to a report by the National Statistics Office (NSO). This essentially means that the number of people living in households with a national equivalised income below the at-risk-of-poverty line (€8,868) was 78,685 in 2017. Income data refer to 2017 while non-income data indicate 2018.
The average gross household income for 2017 as derived from European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) 2018 was estimated at €33,573, while the average disposable household income stood at €27,830.
The severe material deprivation rate (SMD) among individuals living in households was 3% in 2018. This figure is 0.3pp less than the same rate estimated on the basis of EU-SILC 2017. The two most influential variables contributing to this decrease were the ability of households to spend one week’s annual holiday away from home and the ability of households to face unexpected financial expenses.
Furthermore, the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate (AROPE) decreased by 0.3pp to 19% in 2018, when compared to EU-SILC 2017. AROPE provides the share of people who are either at-risk-of-poverty, severely materially deprived or residing in a household with low work intensity (applicable only for people aged 0-59).
The EU-SILC survey is an annual enquiry conducted by the NSO among persons residing in private households in Malta and Gozo.