In 2023, 9.5% of the population of the European Union (EU) could not afford a meal including meat, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every two days, an increase of 1.2 percentage points compared to 2022, when the figure was 8.3%. This data reflects a worsening trend in the purchasing power of European citizens to meet basic food needs.
The problem worsens significantly among people at risk of poverty. In 2023, 22.3% of people in this situation in the EU could not afford a proper meal every two days, representing an increase of 2.6 percentage points compared to 2022, when the figure was 19.7%.
Nationally, Slovakia recorded the highest proportion of people at risk of poverty who could not afford a proper meal, with a staggering 45.7%. Hungary followed with 44.9% and Bulgaria with 40.2%. In contrast, countries with the lowest rates were Ireland, with only 4.2%, followed by Cyprus and Portugal, with 5% and 5.9%, respectively.
The difference between the total population and the population at risk of poverty regarding their ability to afford a proper meal is notable in the EU, standing at 12.8 percentage points. At the country level, Hungary showed the largest gap with 30.2 percentage points, followed by Slovakia with 27.9 percentage points and Greece with 27.3 percentage points. At the other end, Sweden, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Ireland reported the smallest differences, all below 4 percentage points.
The ability to afford a meal including meat, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every two days is one of the household-level indicators used to calculate the severe material and social deprivation rate. This is one of the key indicators of the European Pillar of Social Rights, reflecting the EU’s commitment to improving the social well-being of its citizens.
These data highlight the urgent need for effective and specific policies to address food insecurity and poverty in the EU, ensuring that all citizens can meet their basic food needs.
via: MiMub in Spanish
