Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC): Enforced Deprivation 2024

Deprivation rate decreased for nine of the eleven deprivation items in 2024

Households that are excluded and marginalised from consuming goods and services which are considered the norm for other people in society, due to an inability to afford them, are considered to be deprived. A set of 11 basic deprivation indicators is used to identify those deemed to be deprived. See Survey on Income and Living Conditions Fact Sheet (PDF 494KB) .

In 2024, the items with the highest deprivation rates were being unable to afford to replace any worn out furniture (16.7%), followed by being unable to afford to get-together with family or friends for a drink or meal once a month (10.3%), and being unable to afford a morning, afternoon or evening out in last fortnight (10.1%). See figure 2.1.

In 2024, deprivation rates decreased for nine of the eleven deprivation items. The increase in the deprivation rates for the two items that registered an increase were not statistically significant:

1. The percentage of people unable to afford two pairs of properly fitting shoes that are suitable for daily activities, increased marginally from 2.0% in 2023 to 2.3% in 2024.
2. Being unable to afford a meal with meat chicken or fish every second day, also increased marginally from 1.6% in 2023 to 1.8% in 2024.

The largest year-on-year decreases (in percentage point terms) were seen in:

1. The percentage of people unable to afford to keep their home adequately warm went down from 7.2% in 2023 to 4.9% in 2024.
2. The percentage of people going without heating at some time during the last 12 months through lack of money (e.g. having to go without a fire on a cold day or going to bed to keep warm) went down from 10.8% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024.

A comparison of the 2024 deprivation rates for the 11 deprivation items with the 2022 rates shows that the largest decrease (in percentage point terms) over the two-year period was for the percentage of people who were unable to afford new (not second-hand clothes) which went down from 8.6% in 2022 to 6.2% in 2024. See tables 2.3 and 2.4.

Food-related deprivation items

The proportion of people living in households unable to afford a roast joint (or its equivalent) once a week went down from 4.2% in 2023 to 3.7% in 2024. In 2023, 1.6% of people were unable to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day. The 2024 rate was slightly higher at 1.8%. See figure 2.2.

People living in single adult households with children were least able to afford a Sunday roast

Analysis of the deprivation rates by household composition shows that the percentage of people living in households composed of a single adult with one or more children under 18 years who were unable to afford a roast joint (or its equivalent) once a week went up from 7.5% in 2023 to 13.5% in 2024, similar to their 2022 rate (12.1%). The corresponding rate for adults aged 65 years and older who live on their own went down from 7.5% in 2023 to 3.6% in 2024, almost unchanged for their 2022 rate of 3.2%. See figure 2.3.

The percentage of people living in households composed of single adult with one or more children under 18 years who were unable to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish, (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day also increased in 2024 going from 4.6% in 2023 to 8.0% in 2024. The comparable rate for people aged 65 years and older who live on their own dropped from 5.2% in 2023 to 1.4% in 2024. See table 2.1.

Clothing and footwear-related deprivation items

In 2024, 6.2% of people were unable to afford new (not second-hand clothes) down from 8.1% in 2023. In 2024, less than 1% (0.6%) were unable to afford a warm waterproof coat and one in fifty (2.3%) were unable to afford two pairs of properly fitting shoes that are suitable for daily activities. See figure 2.4.

One in five single-adult households with children were unable to afford new clothes

By household composition, one in five (22.7%) people living in single-adult household with children were unable to afford new (not second-hand) clothes, five times the rate (4.4%) for people living in two-adult households with one to three children. See figure 2.5.

Analysis by self-defined principal economic status shows that unemployed people and those unable to work due to long-standing health problems were least likely to be able to afford each of the clothing and footwear related deprivation items. Almost one in four (23.4%) people who are unable to work due to long-standing health problems and 16.0% of unemployed people were unable to afford new (not second-hand) clothes, compared with 3.9% of employed people in 2024.

Of people who were unable to work due to long-standing health problems in 2024, 5.1% were unable to afford a warm waterproof coat and 9.7% were unable to afford two pairs of properly fitting shoes in good condition that are suitable for daily activities. The comparable rates for employed respondents were 0.4% (unable to afford coat) and 1.4% (unable to afford shoes). See table 2.2.

Housing-related deprivation items

The deprivation rate for each of the three housing related deprivation items decreased in 2024.

• Being without heating at some stage in the last year through lack of money went down from 10.8% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024 (the same rate as in 2022 (8.2%)).
• The rate for inability to keep the home adequately warm went down from 7.2% in 2023 to 4.9% in 2024. The 2022 rate was 6.8%.
• Being unable to afford to replace worn out furniture went down from 18.7% in 2022 to 17.8% in 2023 and fell further to 16.7% in 2024.

SILC data collection occurs during the first six months of the survey year. Taking the mid-point (March) of SILC data collection for survey years 2021 to 2024, prices on average, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose by

• 0.0% between March 2020 and March 2021
• 6.7% between March 2021 and March 2022
• 7.6% between March 2022 and March 2023
• 2.9% between March 2023 and March 2024.

Increases in average prices, particularly energy prices in 2022 and 2023 are reflected in the increase in the deprivation rates for ‘Being without heating at some stage in the last year through lack of money ‘and ‘Being unable to keep the home adequately warm’ in 2022 and 2023. The 2024 deprivation rates for these two deprivation items have decreased when compared with 2023 but remain higher than the 2021 rates. See figure 2.6.

One in five people in single-adult households with children went without heating through lack of money

Analysis by household composition shows that people living in single-adult households with children were the most likely to be unable to keep the home adequately warm (13.0%), while those living in three or more adult households had the lowest rate for this deprivation item (2.2%).

The largest drop in the deprivation rate for this item was for one adult households where the occupant was 65 years or older, which fell by six percentage points from 10.6% in 2023 to 4.6% in 2024. See figure 2.7.

Those living in single-adult households with children were also most likely to have gone without heating at some time during the 12-month period prior to their interview through lack of money (e.g. had to go without a fire on a cold day or go to bed to keep warm or light the fire late because of lack of coal/fuel). One in five (19.3%) of these households went without heating through lack of money.

Almost half (46.7%) of people living in single-adult households with children were unable to afford to replace worn out furniture. See table 2.3.

Unemployed respondents and people unable to work due to long-standing health problems were more likely to be unable to afford to keep their homes adequately warm in 2024. One in ten (10.0%) unemployed respondents and 11.4% of people unable to work due to long-standing health problems were unable to keep their home adequately warm. However, both of these rates saw a decrease when compared to 2023, where the corresponding rates were 18.5% for the unemployed and 16.1% for those unable to work due to long-standing health problems. See figure 2.8.

Furthermore, people unable to work due to long-standing health problems (18.1%) and the unemployed (15.6%) were also more likely to have gone without heating at some point in the last year. The comparable rates for retired people and the employed were 4.5% and 7.3% respectively. See table 2.3.

People living in rented accommodation more likely to go without heating at some point in the last year

People living in rented or rent-free accommodation were more likely to experience heating-related deprivation than those in owner-occupied homes. In 2024, 13.2% of people living in rented or rent-free accommodation went without heating at some point in the last year, more than double the rate (6.0%) for those living in owner-occupied housing. One in ten (9.4%) people living in rented accommodation could not afford to keep their home adequately warm in 2024, more than three times the rate (2.9%) for those living in owner-occupied accommodation. See table 2.3.

Social-related deprivation items

The proportion of people experiencing each of the three social-related deprivation items decreased in 2024. Although the deprivation rates for the social-related deprivation items were lower in 2024 when compared with 2023 rates, the 2024 rates are higher than the comparable rates in 2022.

• The proportion unable to afford a morning, afternoon, or evening out in the last fortnight went down from 11.8% in 2023 to 10.1% in 2024. The 2022 rate was 9.0%.
• The rate for being unable to afford to get-together with family or friends for a drink or meal once a month went down from 12.3% in 2023 to 10.3% in 2024. The 2022 rate was 9.2%.
• The rate for being unable to afford presents for family or friends at least once a year went down from 5.2% to 4.1%. The 2022 rate was 3.8%. See figure 2.9.

One in five people in rented accommodation could not afford to get-together with family or friends for a drink or meal once a month

In 2024, one in five (19.8%) people living in rented or rent-free accommodation were unable to afford a morning, afternoon, or evening out in the last fortnight, and a similar percentage (17.9%) could not afford to get-together with family or friends for a drink or meal once a month. The comparable rates for those living in owner-occupied dwellings were 5.8% and 6.9% respectively. See figure 2.10 and table 2.4.

At the national level, 4.1% of people could not afford to buy presents for family or friends at least once a year, down from 5.2% in 2023. Over one in ten (11.9%) people unable to work due to long-standing health problems and one in ten (9.8%) unemployed people could not afford to buy presents for family or friends at least once a year. The comparable rates for employed and retired respondents were 2.7% and 2.5% respectively. See figure 2.11 and table 2.4.

Additional deprivation items

The following section of this chapter will focus on four additional deprivation indicators, which are not used in calculating the national enforced deprivation rate. These four deprivation indicators are:

1. Capacity to afford a one-week annual holiday away from home
2. Capacity to afford to regularly participate in a leisure activity that costs money
3. Having access to a car/van for personal use
4. The capacity to face unexpected expenses without borrowing

These four indicators are used by Eurostat (the statistical office of the European Union (EU)) to calculate EU material and social deprivation rates. See Background Notes for information on how Eurostat calculates the material and social deprivation rate and how this measure differs from the national enforced deprivation indicator.

Ability to afford a one-week holiday away from home

In the SILC survey, the respondent to the household questionnaire was asked ‘Can you afford to go for a week’s holiday, away from home each year, including stays in a second dwelling or stays with friends/relatives? Note: Please ensure that all people in the household (including children aged one year or more and below 16) are also considered for this question.’ The answer options to this question were:

1. Yes
2. No

The answer given by the respondent to the household questionnaire is assigned to all members of the survey household.

In 2024, more than one in five (22.9%) people could not afford a one-week holiday away from home, down from the 2023 rate of 23.8%. See figure 2.12.

Analysis by household tenure status shows a large difference between the rate for people living in owner-occupied accommodation and for those living in rented or rent-free accommodation. In 2024 four in ten (39.7%) people living in rented accommodation could not afford a one-week holiday compared with 15.6% of people living in owner-occupied accommodation. See figure 2.13.

Capacity to regularly participate in leisure activities that cost money

SILC survey respondents are asked ‘Do you regularly participate in a leisure activity (that costs money)?’ The answer options to this question are:

1. Yes
2. No, because cannot afford
3. No, other reason

The percentage of people who were unable to afford to regularly participate in leisure activities that cost money dropped from 15.3% in 2023 to 13.5% in 2024. See figure 2.14.

Analysis by self-defined principal economic status (PES) shows that the unemployed and people unable to work due to long-standing health problems had higher rates for this deprivation item when compared with other groups. One in three (33.4%) with an unemployed PES were unable to afford to regularly participate in a leisure activity compared with one in twenty (5.0%) retired people. See figure 2.15 and table 2.5.

Availability of a car or van for private use

In the SILC survey, the respondent to the household questionnaire was asked ‘Does your household have a car or van for private use?’ Note: Company cars or vans that are not available for private use are not included.’ Answer options to this question were:

1. Yes
2. No

Households that answer ‘No’ to this question are then asked the follow-up question: ‘Why does your household not have a car or van for private use?’ The answer options to this question are:

1. Cannot afford one
2. Other reason

The answer given by the household questionnaire respondent is assigned to all members of the survey household. All people in households where the household respondent answered ‘Cannot afford one’ are classified as being unable to afford a car or van for private use.

The percentage of people unable to afford a car or van fell from 6.3% in 2023 to 3.8% in 2024. See figure 2.16.

Analysis by tenure status shows that approximately less than one in a hundred (0.8%) people living in owner-occupied households were unable to afford a car or van for private use in 2024. The comparable rate for people living in rented or rent-free accommodation was one in ten (10.5%). See figure 2.17.

Ability to afford an unexpected expense without borrowing

In the 2024 SILC survey, the respondent to the household questionnaire was asked ‘Can your household afford an unexpected expense of €1,500 without borrowing? Note: If the payment was made on credit then the account should be debited within 1 month.’ For information on how €1,500 was calculated as the value for an unexpected expense in the 2024 questionnaire see Background Notes.

In 2024, three in ten (31.5%) people were living in households that were unable to afford an unexpected expense of €1,500 without borrowing.

Analysis by household composition shows that in 2024, almost eight in ten (77.4%) people in single-adult household with children live in a household that could not afford an unexpected expense of €1,500 without borrowing. This compares with less than two in ten (18.4%) people in two-adult households where at least one is aged 65 or over. See figure 2.18.

More than half (54.7%) of people in rented or rent-free households live in a household that could not afford an unexpected expense of €1,500 without borrowing compared with one in five (21.2%) people living in owner-occupied households. See figure 2.19 and table 2.6.