In April 2025, 23 percent of households in Great Britain reported that they could not afford an unexpected expense of 850 British pounds. In the same month, approximately 72 percent of people reported rising living costs relative to the previous month.

Around one-third of the population in Spain resided in households that were incapable of managing unexpected expenses during the analyzed period. The percentage of individuals who suffer from material deprivation increased from 33.4% to 35.5% between the previous year and 2022.

Purpose and brief description EU-SILC (European Union - Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) is a survey on income and living conditions and an important tool to map poverty and social exclusion at both Belgian and European level. The objective of this survey is to establish a global framework for the production of 'Community' statistical data on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), including both coherent cross-sectional and longitudinal data on income and poverty (level, composition,...) at national and European level. The survey is carried out in Belgium and in the other EU Member States and is coordinated by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In Belgium, the SILC is organised by Statbel. Population Private households in Belgium Data collection method and sample size CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) - CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview). Response rate ± 60% (N= ± 6.000 households) Periodicity Annually. Release calendar First quarter after survey year Forms SILC: individual questionnaire SILC: questionnaire households Definitions Risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) The risk of poverty or social exclusion, abbreviated AROPE, refers to the situation in which individuals are faced with at least one of the 3 following poverty risks: monetary poverty, severe material and social deprivation or living in a household with very low work intensity. The AROPE rate, the share of the total population at risk of poverty or social exclusion, is the main indicator for monitoring the ‘EU 2030’ target on poverty and social exclusion. Poverty risk = Monetary poverty risk (AROP) The at-risk-of-poverty rate (AROP) is the percentage of people with an equivalised disposable income (after social transfer) below the poverty threshold. The indicator does not measure wealth or poverty, but low income in comparison to other residents in that country. This does not necessarily imply a low standard of living. Poverty risk before social transfers: Percentage of people whose equivalised disposable income after deduction of all social transfers falls below the poverty threshold. Poverty risk before social transfers, excluding pensions: Percentage of people whose equivalised disposable income after deduction of social transfers, excluding pensions, falls below the poverty threshold. Material and social deprivation rate (MSD) and severe material and social deprivation (SMSD) The material and social deprivation rate refers to the inability to afford some goods/services considered by most people to be desirable or even necessary to lead an adequate life. The indicator distinguishes between individuals who cannot afford a certain good/service/activity, and those who do not have this good/service/activity for another reason, e.g. because they do not want or do not need it. The EU-SILC survey asks households about their financial (in)ability to: Pay the bills as scheduled Take every year one week’s holiday away from home Eat a meal with meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian equivalent every second day Face unexpected financial expenses Afford a car Keep the home warm Replace damaged or worn-out furniture In addition, people are asked about their individual financial (in)ability to: Replace worn out or old-fashioned clothes by new ones Have two pairs of shoes in good condition Afford an internet connection at home Get together with friends/family (relatives) for a drink/meal at least once a month Participate regularly in a leisure activity Spend a small amount of money each week on yourself The material and social deprivation rate (MSD) is defined as the enforced inability to pay for at least five of the above-mentioned items. The severe material and social deprivation rate (SMSD) is defined as the enforced inability to pay for at least seven of the above-mentioned items. Low work intensity (LWI) The indicator persons living in households with very low work intensity is defined as the number of persons living in a household where the members of working age worked a working time less than 20% of their total work-time potential during the previous 12 months. The work intensity of a household is the ratio of the total number of months that all working-age household members have worked during the income reference year and the total number of months the same household members theoretically could have worked in the same period. An employee of working age is a person aged 18-59, excluding students aged 18-24. Households composed only of children, of students aged less than 25 and/or people aged 60 or more are completely excluded from the indicator calculation. Level of education The level of education is measured using a detailed questionnaire, and the people are then divided into three groups. Low-skilled people are people who list lower secondary education as their highest level of education. Medium-skilled people are people who obtained a diploma of higher secondary education but not of higher