In the year 2011, 14.1% of Cypriots lived on the verge of poverty, while almost one in four Cypriots met at least one of the three community criteria for poverty, according to data released by Eurostat.
Furthermore, 23.5% of the population, that is 200,000 Cypriots in 2011, met at least one of the three criteria, namely persons at risk of poverty after social transfers, persons severely materially deprived or persons aged 0-59 living in households with very low work intensity.
In 2011, 14.5% of Cypriots had an income under 60% of the average national income, even after any social transfers, while the average for the EU was 16.9%.
Furthermore, 10.7% of Cypriots were severely materially deprived, while 4.5% of Cypriots lived in households with very low work intensity. The averages for the EU were 8.8% and 10.1% respectively.
With the rise of unemployment, it is considered that the number of Cypriots in the third category would be higher for 2012.
According to Eurostat, persons at-risk-of-poverty are those living in a household with an equivalised disposable income below the risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers). The equivalised income is calculated by dividing the total household income by its size determined after applying the following weights: 1.0 to the first adult, 0.5 to each other household members aged 14 or over and 0.3 to each household member aged less than 14 years old.
Severely materially deprived persons have living conditions constrained by a lack of resources and experience at least four out of the nine following deprivation items: cannot afford 1) to pay rent/mortgage or utility bills on time, 2) to keep home adequately warm, 3) to face unexpected expenses, 4) to eat meat, fish or a protein equivalent every second day, 5) a one week holiday away from home, 6) a car, 7) a washing machine, 8) a colour TV, or 9) a telephone (including mobile phone).
People living in households with very low work intensity are those aged 0-59 who live in households where on average the adults (aged 18-59) worked less than 20% of their total work potential during the past year. Students are excluded.
The total number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion is lower than the sum of the numbers of people in each of the three forms of poverty or social exclusion as some persons are affected simultaneously by more than one of these situations.