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Enforced Deprivation

Enforced deprivation increased from 13.8% in 2021 to 17.1% in 2022.

CSO statistical release, , 11am

The data relating to 2022 in this publication is currently under review and will be re-weighted. Revised estimates are expected to be published in early 2023.

Enforced Deprivation

17.1%
of people
were experiencing enforced deprivation in 2022
up from 13.8% in 2021
Source: CSO Ireland, Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC): Enforced Deprivation 2022 - Old

Enforced deprivation is where a household experiences two or more of the 11 deprivation items discussed in the previous chapter. See Survey on Income and Living Conditions Fact Sheet (PDF 105KB) .

The proportion of persons living in households experiencing enforced deprivation increased over three percentage points, from 13.8% in 2021 to 17.1% in 2022. See table 3.1.

More than one in four (28.4%) of persons are living in households experiencing at least one of the 11 deprivation items. See figure 3.1 and table 3.2.

X-axis label2+ items of deprivation experienced1 item of deprivation experienced0 (No deprivation)
202217.111.471.6
202113.811.275
202014.314.371.4

Of persons that are living in enforced deprivation, the most commonly experienced items are being:

  • unable to afford to replace any worn out furniture (83.3%);
  • unable to afford new (not second-hand) clothes (54.1%);
  • unable to afford to have family or friends for a drink or a meal once a month (52.1%)

See table 3.3.

Table 3.1 Enforced deprivation rate by demographic characteristics and year (% of individuals)

Table 3.2 The number of deprivation items experienced by year (% of individuals)

Table 3.3 Percentage of the population experiencing each deprivation item by enforced deprivation status and year (% of individuals)

Over two in five unemployed persons are living in enforced deprivation

By principal economic status, persons that are most likely to be living in enforced deprivation are the unemployed (45.0%), followed by those unable to work due to long-standing health problems (42.7%). Persons least likely to be living in enforced deprivation are the employed (12.4%) and the retired (10.5%). The enforced deprivation rate for all categories by principal economic status increased in 2022. See figure 3.2 and table 3.1.

""
X-axis label202020212022
Employed9.28.612.4
Unemployed33.331.645
Retired77.610.5
Unable to work due
to long-standing health problems
3739.642.7
Student, pupil16.11319.7
Fulfilling domestic tasks16.515.622.6

Over two in five persons in single-adult households with children are living in enforced deprivation

By household composition, persons living in one-adult households with children are the most likely to be living in enforced deprivation (45.4%). See figure 3.3 and table 3.1.

X-axis label202020212022
1 adult aged
65 years and over
10.612.115.5
1 adult aged
less than 65 years
2219.625.1
2 adults, at
least 1 aged
65 years and over
6.86.97.5
2 adults, both
aged less
than 65 years
11.715.318.1
3 or more adults7.810.910.6
1 adult,
with children
under 18 years
44.144.945.4
2 adults,
with 1-3 children
under 18 years
12.410.718.2
Other households
with children under
18 years
19.215.115.1

Renters over three times more likely to be living in enforced deprivation than those in owner-occupied homes

By tenure status, one in three (34.1%) of persons living in rented or rent-free accommodation are living in enforced deprivation, compared with one in ten (9.8%) living in owner-occupied housing. See figure 3.4 and table 3.1.

X-axis label202020212022
Owner-occupied7.46.19.8
Rented or rent free29.93234.1

While an estimated three in ten (29.8%) of persons live in rented or rent-free accommodation, they make up six in ten (59.6%) of persons living in enforced deprivation. See figure 3.5 and table 3.4.

X-axis labelRented or rent freeOwner-occupied
Persons experiencing enforced deprivation59.640.4
Population29.870.2
Table 3.4 Profile of population experiencing enforced deprivation by demographic characteristics and year (% of individuals)

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