Material, social deprivation drops by more than half

Material and social deprivation in Malta dropped by more than half in two years, according to Eurostat figures, although one in 10 remain unable to afford basic resources.
Material deprivation refers to a person’s inability to afford typical goods and services, such as facing unexpected expenses, eating meat, chicken or fish every other day, replacing worn-out clothes and furniture, keeping houses warm, taking a one-week annual holiday away from home, or meet friends and family for a meal or drinks once a month.
A person is considered to be suffering material deprivation if they cannot afford at least five of 13 such items.
According to Eurostat, 10.5 per cent of people in Malta experienced these difficulties in 2016, down from 15.3 per cent the previous year and 22.9 per cent in 2014.
Last year, the rate was highest among those with up to a secondary level education – 15.3 per cent – and under five per cent for those with a higher-secondary or tertiary level.

The EU average was 17 per cent, with the highest and lowest rates recorded in Romania (50 per cent) and Sweden (three per cent) respectively.
Anti-poverty campaigner Charles Miceli, from Alleanza Kontra l-Faqar, said the...