In 2021, 5.3 % of the population was exposed to severe material and social deprivation which is 1.7 percentage points lower than in 2020, when this share was 7.0 %.
Persons with low income were the most vulnerable to material and social deprivation. Among the lowest income group (1st quintile group) the share of the population exposed to severe material and social deprivation reached 16.2 % in 2021, while among the highest income group (5th quintile group) it was only 0.2 %, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
In 2021, 59.3 % of the Latvian population could not afford at least 1 of the 13 basic needs (59.8 % in 2020).
42.5 % of the population aged 16 and over could not afford to cover sudden unexpected expenses (46.4 % in 2020), 34.1 % could not afford to go on one week holiday away from home each year (30.1 % in 2020) and 21.8 % could not afford to replace worn-out furniture in their home with new furniture (25.2% in 2020).
Reducing poverty and social exclusion is one of the main objectives of the European Union and Latvia, as set out in a number of international and Latvian national strategic documents.
One of the main indicators of the at-risk-of poverty and social exclusion is the material capacity of the population to provide themselves with various basic necessities. Until 2020, material deprivation of a person was characterised by the indicator «severe material deprivation», which examined person’s ability to provide themselves with basic necessities and to cover daily payments. However, this indicator needed to be updated to better understand the risks of poverty and social exclusion.
The indicator on the material situation of the population was expanded, and, as of 2021, the indicator on «severe material deprivation» was replaced by a new indicator on «severe material and social deprivation», which examines not only the ability of the population to provide themselves with basic necessities, but also their ability to meet the costs of social inclusion – building and maintaining social contacts and providing themselves with the necessary hobbies and leisure activities.
In 2021, some of the signs of «severe material and social deprivation» were not only affected by financial capabilities of population, but also by the Covid-19 pandemic (restrictions on gatherings and caution in social contacts).
Data on the share of the population exposed to severe material and social deprivation are available from 2015 onwards.
CSP reports 5.3% of Latvia’s population are deeply materially and socially deprived
