2,144,000 Belgians, or 18.7% of the population, are at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE). This is what emerged from the poverty figures for 2022 published today by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, based on the survey on income and living conditions (EU-SILC).
13.2% of Belgians live in a household with a total disposable income lower than the poverty line, which is 1,366 euros per month for a single person. They are considered at risk of monetary poverty (AROP). Furthermore, 11.5% of the population live in a household with low work intensity (LWI). 5.8% of the Belgian population was facing severe material and social deprivation (SMSD) in 2022.
People who are confronted with at least one of the three situations above are considered at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) according to the European poverty indicator of the Europe 2030 strategy. For 2022, this was 18.7% of the population, or 2,144,000 Belgians.
Rising poverty line
The 2022 poverty threshold increased by 73 euros per month compared to 2021 for single people, and by 153 euros for a family with two adults and two children. For a single person, the poverty threshold is 1,366 euros; for a family with two adults and two children, it is 2,868 euros per month. The previous year's income is used to calculate that threshold. Thus, the 2021 threshold was calculated based on the income from 2020 in which a significant part of the working population experienced an income loss due to COVID-19. The increase in the poverty threshold that we usually see from year to year was absent in 2021; the threshold then remained rather the same. The sharp rise in the poverty threshold in 2022 illustrates a recovery in this income loss.
Regional differences in risks of poverty
Behind the national figures there are large regional differences. For each of the key indicators, the situation is the most precarious in the Brussels-Capital Region, and the least precarious in the Flemish Region. The Walloon Region is in between, but has higher poverty levels than the national level. Clear differences can also be seen at provincial level. The Flemish provinces do not differ very much from each other as regards monetary poverty, with the exception of Antwerp where higher levels are recorded. In Wallonia, the differences are more pronounced: Hainaut has the highest monetary poverty rate, Walloon Brabant the lowest.
Diploma important protective factor
The figures also show the importance of a higher education degree. For each of the key poverty indicators, the highly-skilled are significantly less vulnerable:
- 6.7% of highly-skilled people are at risk of monetary poverty (AROP), compared to 26.2% of low-skilled people.
- 1.8% of highly-skilled people are facing severe material and social deprivation (SMSD), compared to 12.1% of low-skilled people.
- 4.4% of highly-skilled people live in a household with low work intensity (LWI), compared to 31.9% of low-skilled people.
- 8.7% of highly-skilled people are at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE), compared to 36.8% of low-skilled people.