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Statistics Lithuania’s 2020 Income and Living Conditions Statistical Survey showed that even before the pandemic, 11.6%. the country’s population could not afford to eat meat or fish every other day.
In recent years, the number of people searching for cheaper or discounted food on store shelves has increased or decreased and rarely visit the meat or fish department. It is true that the statistics did not change only in terms of the entire population.
Over the years, the lunches of people living in the villages have become even poorer, by almost 15%. rural people indicated that they could not afford to eat meat or fish frequently.
There were also more people in the villages who, due to lack of money, were unable to pay their rent, utilities, housing or other loans and credit payments on time last year.
By the way, more than half of the rural population indicated that they do not have the opportunity to spend at least a week of vacation away from home and could not cover unforeseen expenses with their own funds. More rural residents also indicated that their home was dark or not bright enough.
People who lived in cities had fewer such problems.
Due to lack of funds, the washing machines did not have 1.3 percent. people from the town. Only 2.6 percent. They did not have a bathtub or shower, and a toilet with running water: 2.1 percent.
One in six people lived in villages without a bathroom or shower, and almost one in five without a toilet. 7.7% face serious material deprivation. city and 8.8 percent. Rural population.
The Ministry of Social Security and Labor says that larger municipalities are more successful in reducing poverty, while smaller ones are more successful.
The director of the Ministry, Monika Navickienė, warns that small municipalities, although with fewer resources, are in a better position to reach the people who need more help.
However, data from the Department of Statistics show that the at-risk-of-poverty rate in 2020 increased precisely in cities.
Up to 18.3 percent, or 1.2 percentage points more than in 2019. The income of the urban population was below the risk-of-poverty line, which last year was € 430 per person, and for a family of two adults and two children under 14 years old, € 904.
At the same time, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for the rural population decreased slightly: last year, 26.3% received income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold. Rural population. In previous years, the proportion of rural residents who exceeded this threshold was 1.6 percentage points higher.
The overall at-risk-of-poverty rate in the country last year was 20.9 percent, or 0.3 percentage points less than in 2019. Absolute poverty was also lower last year.
The absolute poverty line last year was € 257 per person, or € 540 per family. According to data from the Department of Statistics, last year 5.1%, or about 140,000 people, were below the absolute poverty line. population.
Income below the absolute poverty line in the city received 3.9 percent. population, in rural areas – 7.5 percent. The highest level of absolute poverty is found among the unemployed (31.7%).
However, poverty and 1% 5.2% of retirees were below the absolute poverty line. older population.
Incidentally, the preliminary estimates of the Department of Statistics on the absolute level of poverty were even more pessimistic. It is projected to can reach 6.1 percent.
Andrius Čiginas, specialist from the Department’s Data Technology Development Group, explained that this forecast was revised after receiving additional data.
Now, based on various administrative data, it is projected that in 2021. below the absolute poverty line, it could be 3.6 percent. population of the country.
Isn’t this forecast overly optimistic, especially when people’s incomes are likely to grow more slowly than, say, housing costs? “I don’t know if this is a very significant change. Looking back at 2016, when the absolute poverty rate stood at 15.8 percent, the projected change may not seem very large. In fact, the numbers Officials on poverty and reality may also differ. The reality may be harsher, “said the data analyst.
