When compared to 2020, it was slightly easier for Latvian households to cover everyday expenses in 2021, according to data from Bērni Latvijā 2022 [Children in Latvia] composed by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSP).
The percentage of households that can cover everyday expenses easily or very easily has increased by 4.4 percentage points.
The situation has improved the most for couples that have three or more children under the age of 17 years – in 2021 16.1% of such couples were able to cover everyday expenses easily or very easily, whereas in 2020 there were only 6.9% of such couples.
Over the course of the year the percentage of households that experience difficulties covering everyday expenses reduced by 4.3 percentage points.
34.0% of households with one adult and children and 24.1% of couples with three or more children had difficulties covering everyday expenses in 2021 (37.5% and 25.5% in 2020).
Couples that have one or two children mention having financial difficulties more rarely than other couples.
9.1% of couples with two children and 10.2% of couples with one child report having difficulties with covering everyday expenses.
Households that have one adult and several children, as well as couples with three or more children reported having difficulties being afford to necessities.
Covid-19 pandemic has changed the income for more than half of households in Latvia.
In 2021 a total of 53.4% of interviewed households admitted that Covid-19 has affected their income. This impact was felt the most by couples that have three or more children (69.3%) and households that have one adult and several children (69.0%).
In 2021 33.0% of couples with three or more children and 29.5% of households with one adult and several children reported experiencing reduction of income in the past 12 months.