ISTANBUL

In 2021 young people in Denmark were at the highest risk of facing poverty in the EU, according to the European Union statistical office.

Over one-quarter (25.6%) of Danes age 15-29 were at risk of poverty, followed closely by Greece with 25.3% and Spain at 24.9%, said a Eurostat report released this week.

The report said the poverty risk for the general population in Denmark was 12.3% while for young people it was 25.6%. In Sweden as well, the rate of young people suffering financially was more than the general population, 24.6%, as compared to 15.7% of people from all age groups.

In the EU overall in 2021, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for young people was 20.1%, compared to 16.8% for the population at large.

6% of EU youth ‘severely materially and socially deprived’

The report also said that in 2021, around 6.1% of people age 15-29 were “severely materially and socially deprived.”

Among the total population of people living in EU countries, the rate of severely materially and socially deprived people from all age groups was 6.3%, higher than that for young people.

According to EU indicators, people who are severely materially and socially deprived are those who cannot afford 7 out of 13 factors listed, due to lack of finances.

These include the ability to pay loans, mortgage, or utility bills; to keep the house warm; to eat fish, meat, or chicken every other day; to meet unexpected financial expenses; to go on holidays; to replace worn-out furniture; buy a car; buy new clothes; have proper shoes; have leisure activities; meet family or friends out over a meal once a month; have pocket money; and have an internet connection.

The highest ratio of young people suffering from social and material deprivations was in Romania with 23.1%. Bulgaria came in second with 18.7 % followed by Greece at 14.2 %.