EU-SILC 2024: Salient Indicators
We would like to advise that data published in this news release are not comparable to estimates published for reference years prior to 2023 due to a break in series. More information is available in the technical note published on 20 October 2025. Online document was amended to reflect the relative notes, and a change was done in Chart 4 on 07 November 2025.
- The at-risk-of-poverty threshold (ARPT) derived from EU-SILC 2024 was of €12,257.84.
- In 2024, the number of at-risk-of-poverty persons living in private households was estimated at 16.8 per cent of the target population, an increase of 0.2 percentage points when compared with 2023.
- From EU-SILC 2024, the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate (AROPE) stood at 19.7 per cent, thus registering a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from 2023.
EU-SILC 2024: Salient Indicators
EU-SILC 2024: Salient Indicators
We would like to advise that data published in this news release are not comparable to estimates published for reference years prior to 2023 due to a break in series. More information is available in the technical note published on 20 October 2025. Online document was amended to reflect the relative notes, and a change was done in Chart 4 on 07 November 2025.
Introduction
The European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey is an annual enquiry conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) among persons residing in private households in Malta and Gozo. Its aim is to collect comparable data on income, health and wellbeing, employment, and material deprivation.
European statistics on material deprivation are based on the perceived capacity, or otherwise, of households to afford a number of items from a set of 13 standard items. From these components, two major constructs are derived, being the Material and Social Deprivation (MSD), and the Severe Material and Social Deprivation (SMSD) indicator. In 2024 the MSD rate stood at 9.0 per cent, whereas the SMSD rate stood at 4.0 per cent.
Income statistics refer to calendar year 2023, while non-income components refer to calendar year 2024, which is the data collection year.
Household Income
For the income reference year 2023, the average gross household income was estimated at €47,893. On the other hand, the estimate for the average disposable household income was €38,236. Disposable income is defined as the amount of money available to households for spending purposes, after deducting taxes, social contributions, and alimonies (Table 1).
Employment income made up 82.8 per cent of the total gross household income for 2023. The share of social benefits (including old-age benefits) for 2023 stood at 13.9 per cent (Table 2, Chart 1).
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
National Equivalised Income (NEI)
The National Equivalised Income (NEI) is defined as the household’s total disposable income divided by its ‘equivalent size’ (also referred to as consumption units). The NEI takes into account the size and age distribution of household members. The Gini coefficient is one of the measures of income inequality that varies between 0 and 100 per cent. A Gini coefficient of 0 per cent indicates a perfectly equal distribution of income. On the other hand, a Gini coefficient of 100 per cent indicates that there is full inequality of income.
The S80/S20 ratio, which compares the average NEI of the highest and lowest 20 per cent income earners, was calculated at 5.0 (Table 1).
The Gini coefficient for Malta, as derived from EU-SILC 2024, decreased by 2.2 percentage points to 30.8 per cent, when compared to the previous year (Table 1).
Monetary Poverty (ARP)
The at-risk-of-poverty (ARP) rate defines the number of people with an equivalised disposable income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold (ARPT), which is set at 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income after social transfers. Consequently, EU-SILC respondents whose NEI falls below this threshold are considered to be at-risk-of-poverty.
The ARPT derived from EU-SILC 2024 was estimated at €12,258, 7.9 per cent higher when compared to the previous year (Table 1).
Based on the income year 2023, the number of at-risk-of-poverty persons living in Malta was estimated at 92,690 or 16.8 per cent of the target population (Table 1).
The ARP rate for males and females was calculated at 15.6 and 18.3 per cent respectively, with a decrease (0.1 percentage point) being registered for males and an increase (0.7 percentage points) being registered for females, when compared to the previous year. The ARP rate among persons below 18 years of age was calculated at 24.1 per cent, increasing by 2.1 percentage points from the previous year. Similarly, relative to EU-SILC 2023, the rate for those aged 65 years and over also increased by 0.7 percentage points to 29.7 per cent. On the other hand, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points was observed for persons aged between 18 and 64 years, bringing the ARP rate for this cohort down to 11.9 per cent in 2024 (Table 3).
The ARP rate for households with and without dependent children was calculated at 18.1 and 15.9 per cent, respectively (Chart 2). Members of single person households with one or more dependent children were noted to be more susceptible to being at-risk-of-poverty, with 43.8 per cent of these having an equivalised disposable income below the ARPT. Members of one person households aged 65 years or more, and members of households with two adults (at least one adult aged 65 years or more) and no dependent children, were also more prone to being at-risk-of-poverty (Table 4).
Chart 2. At-risk-of-poverty rates by household type
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
The ARP rate among persons living in households with at least one member aged 0-64 years decreased as the household work intensity increased. Indeed 69.4 per cent of persons living in households with very low work intensity were found to be at-risk-of-poverty, when compared to 6.5 per cent of persons living in households with very high work intensity (Table 5).
An increase was recorded in the at-risk-of-poverty rate for employed persons during the income reference year, when compared to the previous EU-SILC (refer to methodological note 4). On the other hand, there was a decrease in the at-risk-of-poverty rate for the retired and other inactive persons (Table 6).
At district level, the distribution of persons under ARPT was uneven across the Maltese Islands, with the Northern district having the largest share of ARP persons followed by the Gozo and Comino district. On the other hand, the South Eastern district registered the lowest ARP rate (Map 1).
Map 1. Distribution of the at-risk-of-poverty (ARP) rate by district: 2024
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
When all social transfers, including pensions, are excluded, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for 2024 increases by 16.1 percentage points, or 88,250 persons (Table 7). This illustrates the importance of social welfare in assisting the most vulnerable persons in society.
Material and Social Deprivation Indicators
The Material and Social Deprivation indicators are based on 13 deprivation items, of which seven items relate to the person’s household, and six items relate to the persons themselves. The list of components was adopted by the EU Member States in 2017 (refer to methodological note 5). From this set of items two major indicators are obtained, namely the Material and Social Deprivation (MSD) and the Severe Material and Social Deprivation (SMSD).
A person living in a household is deemed to be materially and socially deprived if this person does not afford at least five of the 13 items, whereas those who do not afford at least seven of these items are considered to be severely materially and socially deprived. In EU-SILC 2024, the MSD rate stood at 9.0 per cent, whereas the SMSD rate stood at 4.0 per cent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points, and 0.1 percentage point, respectively, when compared to EU-SILC 2023 (Table 8, Chart 3).
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
With reference to specific household deprivation items, 28.8 per cent of the surveyed population stated that their household could not afford to pay for a one-week annual holiday away from home. This was followed by 18.3 per cent of respondents declaring that their household would not be able to settle an unexpected financial expense of around €900. On the contrary, only 1.8 per cent of respondents indicated that their household does not afford to own a car (Table 8, Chart 4A).
With reference to specific personal deprivation items, 11.1 per cent of respondents stated that they were not able to afford to participate in a leisure activity on a regular basis and spending a small amount of money each week on themselves. It was also reported that 5.4 per cent of the surveyed population were not capable of replacing worn-out clothes with some new ones, and 5.3 per cent were not capable of affording two pairs of properly fitting shoes (Table 8, Chart 4B).
Chart 4a. Household Material and Social Deprivation rates among respondents
Chart 4b. Personal Material and Social Deprivation rates among respondents
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
In EU-SILC 2024, 4.8 per cent of children were living in severely materially and socially deprived households. Furthermore, 3.7 per cent of adults aged between 18 and 64 years, and 4.1 per cent of those aged 65 years and over, were also considered to be severely materially and socially deprived (Chart 5).
Chart 5. Share of persons living in households who were Severely Materially and Socially Deprived by age group
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
At-Risk-of-Poverty or Social Exclusion Indicator
The AROPE rate defines the proportion/number of people who are either at-risk-of-poverty, or severely materially and socially deprived, or living in households with very low work intensity (applicable only for persons aged 0-64 years). The greatest contributing factor of AROPE in EU-SILC 2024 was from persons who were at-risk-of-poverty, with 16.8 per cent (Chart 6).
Chart 6. The at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion indicator and its components
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
In EU-SILC 2024, the AROPE rate was estimated at 19.7 per cent, registering a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from 2023. A decrease of 0.3 percentage points can be noted across the 18- to 64-year-old age group, at 15.2 per cent. On the other hand, an increase can be noted among persons under 18 years (0.7 percentage points) and among persons 65 years and over (0.3 percentage points), with the AROPE reaching 25.9 per cent, and 31.7 per cent, respectively (Table 9).
At district level, the Northern district registered the highest rate of AROPE, at 24.1 per cent. The lowest AROPE rate was recorded in the South Eastern district, at 11.7 per cent (Map 2).
Chart 7 provides a comparison between the growth indices of the ARPT, the ARP rate and the AROPE rate.
Chart 7. Comparison of the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, the at-risk-of-poverty rate and the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate in index form
(EU-SILC 2015 = 100)
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
Map 2. Distribution of the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) rate by district: 2024
Note: Refer to methodological note 7 for details on methodological changes implemented in the EU-SILC following the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
Well-Being Characteristics
On a scale from zero to 10, where zero represents not satisfied at all, and 10 represents completely satisfied, respondents at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion reported lower average scores with regard to their satisfaction with overall life, financial situation, current job, and personal relationships, when compared to those not at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion.
Average scores for overall satisfaction in relation to at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion were slightly higher in 2024 for overall life and financial situation. Particularly, in 2024 respondents in AROPE reported a mean score of 7.1 for overall life satisfaction, and a mean score of 6.3 for financial situation satisfaction, registering an increase of 0.1 percentage point each. On the other hand, slightly lower mean scores were reported for current job satisfaction, at 7.3 and for personal relationships, at 8.4, both registering a decrease of 0.1 percentage point (Table 10).
Tables
Tables
We would like to advise that data published in this news release are not comparable to estimates published for reference years prior to 2023 due to a break in series. More information is available in the technical note published on 20 October 2025. Online document was amended to reflect the relative notes, and a change was done in Chart 4 on 07 November 2025.
Methodological Notes
The equivalised disposable income of a household (also referred to as national equivalised income) is defined as the household’s total disposable income divided by its “equivalent household size”. The computation of the equivalised disposable income takes into account all the income generated by the household members, as well as the size and composition of the selected household. For example, a household with two adults and two children aged less than 14 would have an equivalised household size of 2.1, which is calculated as follows:
If the total disposable income earned by the household is €20,000, then the household equivalised income would result in (€20,000/2.1) = €9,523.
While the household disposable income computation is carried out at the household level, this variable is assigned to every individual in the EU-SILC sample for the computation of EU-SILC indicators.
In 2017, a set of new Material and Social Deprivation (MSD) indicators were adopted by all the European Union (EU) Member States. The new indicators are the Material and Social deprivation (MSD) indicator and the Severe Material and Social Deprivation (SMSD) indicator. These indicators are based on 13 items: 7 household items and 6 personal items.
Due to the impact the change had on the weighted counts individually for foreign and Maltese nationals, caution must be taken when making comparisons between household and individual counts estimated from 2023 onwards, with counts estimated in previous years.
We encourage all users to consult with the NSO when using time-series data from the EU-SILC survey to ensure accurate interpretation of the results.
| Estimate | margin of error at 95% confidence interval |
95% confidence interval | ||
| At-risk-of-poverty | 92,690 | 9,903 | 92,690 ± 9,903 | |
| At-risk-of-poverty rate (%) | Total | 16.8 | 1.8 | 16.8 ± 1.8 |
| Males | 15.6 | 1.8 | 15.6 ± 1.8 | |
| Females | 18.3 | 2.1 | 18.3 ± 2.1 | |
| 0-17 | 24.1 | 5.3 | 24.1 ± 5.3 | |
| 18-64 | 11.9 | 1.6 | 11.9 ± 1.6 | |
| 65+ | 29.7 | 2.7 | 29.7 ± 2.7 | |
| Material and social deprivation | 49,386 | 7,703 | 49,386 ± 7,703 | |
| Material and social deprivation rate (%) | Total | 9.0 | 1.4 | 9.0 ± 1.4 |
| Males | 7.8 | 1.3 | 7.8 ± 1.3 | |
| Females | 10.3 | 1.8 | 10.3 ± 1.8 | |
| 0-17 | 10.1 | 3.6 | 10.1 ± 3.6 | |
| 18-64 | 8.7 | 1.6 | 8.7 ± 1.6 | |
| 65+ | 9.0 | 1.6 | 9.0 ± 1.6 | |
| Severe material and social deprivation | 21,752 | 5,502 | 21,752 ± 5,502 | |
| Severe material and social deprivation rate (%) | Total | 4.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 ± 1.0 |
| Males | 3.2 | 0.8 | 3.2 ± 0.8 | |
| Females | 4.8 | 1.4 | 4.8 ± 1.4 | |
| 0-17 | 4.8 | 3.2 | 4.8 ± 3.2 | |
| 18-64 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 3.7 ± 0.9 | |
| 65+ | 4.1 | 1.2 | 4.1 ± 1.2 | |
| Low work intensity | 19,585 | 6,125 | 19,585 ± 6,125 | |
| Low work intensity rate (%) | Total | 4.5 | 1.4 | 4.5 ± 1.4 |
| Males | 4.2 | 1.4 | 4.2 ± 1.4 | |
| Females | 4.8 | 1.6 | 4.8 ± 1.6 | |
| 0-17 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 3.7 ± 2.8 | |
| 18-64 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 4.7 ± 1.4 | |
| At-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion | 108,406 | 10,454 | 108,406 ± 10,454 | |
| At-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate (%) | Total | 19.7 | 1.9 | 19.7 ± 1.9 |
| Males | 18.1 | 2.0 | 18.1 ± 2.0 | |
| Females | 21.5 | 2.2 | 21.5 ± 2.2 | |
| 0-17 | 25.9 | 5.3 | 25.9 ± 5.3 | |
| 18-64 | 15.2 | 1.9 | 15.2 ± 1.9 | |
| 65+ | 31.7 | 2.8 | 31.7 ± 2.8 | |
| At-risk-of-poverty by household type | 92,691 | 9,903 | 92,691 ± 9,903 | |
| At-risk-of-poverty rate (%) | Household without dependent children | 15.9 | 1.4 | 15.9 ± 1.4 |
| One person household, under 65 years | 29.7 | 5.0 | 29.7 ± 5.0 | |
| One person household, 65 years and over | 40.0 | 5.0 | 40.0 ± 5.0 | |
| 2 adults, no dependent children, both under 65 years | 5.9 | 2.9 | 5.9 ± 2.9 | |
| 2 adults, no dependent children, at least one adult 65 years or more | 34.0 | 4.7 | 34.0 ± 4.7 | |
| Other households without dependent children | 2.6 | 1.2 | 2.6 ± 1.2 | |
| Household with dependent children | 18.1 | 3.7 | 18.1 ± 3.7 | |
| Single person household, one or more dependent children | 43.8 | 13.1 | 43.8 ± 13.1 | |
| 2 adults, one dependent child | 13.5 | 6.7 | 13.5 ± 6.7 | |
| 2 adults, two or more dependent children | 27.2 | 8.0 | 27.2 ± 8.0 | |
| Other households with one or more dependent children | 8.0 | 4.5 | 8.0 ± 4.5 | |
| At-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion by household type | 108,406 | 10,454 | 108,406 ± 10,454 | |
| At-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate (%) | Household without dependent children | 19.4 | 1.8 | 19.4 ± 1.8 |
| One person household, under 65 years | 33.1 | 5.0 | 33.1 ± 5.0 | |
| One person household, 65 years and over | 40.7 | 5.0 | 40.7 ± 5.0 | |
| 2 adults, no dependent children, both under 65 years | 6.9 | 2.9 | 6.9 ± 2.9 | |
| 2 adults, no dependent children, at least one adult 65 years or more | 38.2 | 4.7 | 38.2 ± 4.7 | |
| Other households without dependent children | 8.3 | 3.3 | 8.3 ± 3.3 | |
| Household with dependent children | 20.1 | 3.7 | 20.1 ± 3.7 | |
| Single person household, one or more dependent children | 46.2 | 13.0 | 46.2 ± 13.0 | |
| 2 adults, one dependent child | 15.9 | 6.7 | 15.9 ± 6.7 | |
| 2 adults, two or more dependent children | 28.0 | 8.0 | 28.0 ± 8.0 | |
| Other households with one or more dependent children | 10.5 | 5.1 | 10.5 ± 5.1 |
1. less than 20 reporting households; or
2. the non-response for the item concerned exceeds 50 per cent.
[ ] Figures to be used with caution: figures based on between 20 and 49 reporting households or figures with item non-response ranging between 20 per cent and 50 per cent.
