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The CSO published today the results of the 2009 Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) in Ireland. SILC is a household survey covering a broad range of issues in relation to income and living conditions. It is the official source of data on household and individual income and also provides a number of key national poverty indicators, such as the at risk
of poverty rate, the consistent poverty rate and rates of enforced deprivation. A summary of the key results of the 2009 survey along with comparative information for previous years is presented below:
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
% change
|
|
|
2008-2009
|
|||||
| Annual average income |
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
%
|
| Gross household income (per household) |
55,075
|
59,820
|
60,581
|
56,522
|
-6.7
|
| Disposable household income (per household) |
43,646
|
47,988
|
49,043
|
45,959
|
-6.3
|
| Equivalised disposable income (per individual) |
21,229
|
23,610
|
24,380
|
23,326
|
-4.3
|
| At risk of poverty threshold (60% of median income) |
10,566
|
11,890
|
12,455
|
12,064
|
-3.1
|
| Poverty & deprivation rates |
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
| At risk of poverty rate |
17.0
|
16.5
|
14.4
|
14.1
|
|
| Consistent poverty rate |
6.5
|
5.1
|
4.2
|
5.5
|
|
| Deprivation rate (experienced 2 or more forms of deprivation) |
13.8
|
11.8
|
13.8
|
17.3
|
|
Income, poverty and deprivation
The 2009 results showed a decrease in average gross household income of almost 7% between 2008 and 2009. This was attributable to a decline in average direct income of 12%, which was partially offset by an average increase in social transfers of 11% over the year.
The at risk of poverty threshold fell by 3.1% over the year but there was no statistically significant change in the at risk of poverty rate which was 14.1% in 2009. Although there was a fall in income between 2008 and 2009, but no change in the risk of poverty rate, this was indicative of the fact that the decline in income was evident right across the income distribution and the rates of decline were broadly similar.
The level of enforced deprivation increased by more than 25% between 2008 and 2009 with more than 17% of the population experiencing at least two forms of enforced deprivation in 2009. The increase in the level of enforced deprivation resulted in an increase in the consistent poverty rate from 4.2% in 2008 to 5.5% in 2009.
Over-indebtedness
Almost a quarter of all households were in arrears with at least one bill or loan on at least one occasion in 2009. More than 11% of households stated that they had to go into debt in the twelve months prior to the date of interview to meet ordinary living expenses while almost 48% of households did not have the ability to meet an unexpected expense of approximately €1,000 without borrowing in 2009.
For further information contact Pamela Lafferty on 021 453 5268 or by e-mail at pamela.lafferty@cso.ie
Central Statistics Office
25 November 2010
– ENDS –