According to Eurostat, 5.6% of European Union's population were severely materially deprived. This percentage amounts to 24 million people who cannot afford at least four of the following items: "pay their bills on time; keep their home adequately warm; face unexpected expenses; eat meat (or fish or the vegetarian equivalent) regularly; take a one week holiday away from home; a TV; a washing machine; a car; a telephone."
Bulgaria (19.9%), Greece (15.9%) and Romania (12.6%) registered the highest shares of severe material deprivation in 2019.
The lowest shares were recorded in the Grand Duchy (1.3%), Sweden (1.6%), the Netherlands and Finland (both 2.8%).
The EU average lies at 5.6%.
