Severe material deprivation down in Romania but still among highest in EU

The share of severely materially deprived people in Romania decreased by 4.4 percentage points last year, to 19.4%, from 23.8% in 2016, according to the most recent data from the European statistical office Eurostat. However, the percentage is still among the highest in the EU. Only Bulgaria (30%) and Greece (21.1%) had higher shares of materially deprived people in 2017. The share of severely materially deprived people in the EU went down from 7.5% in 2016 to 6.7% last year. The lowest shares were recorded in Sweden (0.8% in 2016), Luxembourg (1.6% in 2016), Finland (2.0%) and the Netherlands (2.6%). People who live in severe material deprivation cannot afford at least four of the following items, which are considered by most people to be desirable or necessary to lead an adequate life: pay their bills on time; keep their home adequately warm; face unexpected expenses; eat meat (or fish or the vegetarian equivalent) regularly; take a one week holiday away from home; a TV; a washing machine; a car; a telephone. In Romania, the share of severely materially deprived people has gone down constantly over the last five years, after peaking at 31.1% in 2012. EC: Inequality & poverty, still present in Romania despite economy growth editor@romania-insider.com