According to the latest EuroStat statistics, up to 8.2% of the working population in the EU is at risk of poverty. Malta’s rate comes just shy the 8% mark with more men being at risk than women. The average rate of working women at risk of poverty in the EU is at 7.3% with the rate for men coming at 9%. The rates were higher for women in Czechia, Latvia, Cyprus and Luxembourg.
Malta has a median average income slightly higher than the EU average at €21 ,253 – €24,000 with the EU average at €21,253. Note that Malta’s median average income hasn’t risen significantly since 2019 and is still in the same range. However Malta comes off better than in its rankings in the EU with the Gini coefficient which measures income distribution and inequality. Malta has a Gini coefficient of between 30.8 and 33%, higher than the EU’s average of 29.3%. The highest disparities were recorded in Bulgaria (38.4%), Lithuania (35.3%) and Latvia (34.2%).
72.1 million people were recorded to be at risk of poverty in the EU in 2024. The rate of people at risk of poverty in Malta is increasing while the rate is decreasingly slightly in the EU, however Malta’s poverty rate is still below the EU average. Statistics also show that between 41.6% and 50% of people in Malta are facing difficulties making ends meet at the end of the month, this is slightly higher that the EU’s average at 41.6%. People with lower education to be at higher risk of poverty.
The fact that Malta’s poverty rate is slightly below the EU’s average while the average of people making ends meet is higher than the EU’s average, may indicate that a public welfare system or government support is keeping off some families and individuals from poverty. Therefore, a small reduction in some essential healthcare services for example, may contribute to a significant increase to people in poverty or at risk of poverty. People failing to make ends meet may also be seeking help from family support networks which enable them to stay out of poverty.
Only around 6% of the Maltese are unable to keep their house warm in Winter with the EU average being 9.2%. Romanians are the most likely not to be able to afford a holiday while Hungarians are least likely to afford a leisure event. The people of Luxembourg seem to be the most capable of affording a holiday among Europeans.
The number of people in Europe who consider themselves to be poor ranged from 7.3% in Germany and the Netherlands to 37.4% in Bulgaria and 66.8% in Greece.
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