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The report produced this year shows that in 2019. The risk of poverty rate in Lithuania was 20.6%. Compared to 2018, this figure decreased by 2.3 percentage points, however, more than half a million (576 thousand) of the country’s population lived below the risk of poverty line.
“The situation is changing, but very slowly, so we are still far behind the European Union average (201.1% in 2018). In our assessment, the reduction in the at-risk-of-poverty rate in 2018 had the greatest impact. Children’s money, increased pensions, state-funded income and other changes in monetary support for the poor have begun, ”says Aistė Adomavičienė, Director of the National Network of Organizations for Reduction of Poverty (NSMOT).
Photo by Marija Krutulytė / Aistė Adomavičienė
However, according to A.Adomavičienė, it is too early to be happy with the improvement in the indicators. The coronavirus pandemic is not yet reflected in the latest indicators, and the health crisis in Lithuania has highlighted and exacerbated the problems of poverty and social exclusion.
“It just came to our attention then. Some people not only had difficulty paying their housing bills, but they also lacked food. Although we say that the economic recession associated with the pandemic in Lithuania was one of the smallest in the European Union. Due to long-standing social exclusion and income inequality, the poorest people are already feeling the consequences. Therefore, a slight improvement in the one-year figures cannot be relied upon. Further strengthening is necessary. social protection of the population and resilience to the challenges of the future ”, says the expert.
The Poverty Analysis Network proposes an action plan to reduce poverty, social exclusion and income inequality based on social human rights in the post-election government program. According to non-governmental organizations, this plan should include an increase in tax collection and financing of social security, an increase in social benefits and the development of public services, especially social services.
The report is published annually, close to October 17. – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and Social Exclusion.
With 2020 an overview of poverty and social exclusion is available at HERE.
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