An EU survey on income has shown that the percentage of people at risk of poverty fell slightly last year, while average household income rose by nearly 9%.
According to the figures, published by the Central Statistics Office, 19.4% of the population were 'at risk of poverty' last year, compared with 19.7% in 2003. People at risk of povery are defined as those who are living in households where income is less than 60% of the median.
Members of lone parent households and people living alone were found to be among the most at risk. The survey also shows that 7% of the population were 'consistently poor', down from 9% in 2003. This figure applies to people at risk of poverty combined with other elements such as being unable to afford new clothes, going without a substantial meal or debt problems.
The figures show that gross annual household income last year was just over €49,000, or €945 a week, up 9% on 2003. Disposable income, which subtracts tax and social contributions, rose by 7%.
The 20% of people at the top of the income scale had five times the income as those in the bottom fifth. This represented no change from 2003.
