Nearly one Belgian in ten suffers from material and social deprivation
9.4% of the Belgian population is in a situation of material and social deprivation (MSD). This is what emerged from the latest figures[1] from the SILC 2025 survey on income and living conditions, which Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, carried out among more than 6,400 households. In other words, nearly one Belgian in ten does not have sufficient resources to cover at least 5 of the 13 essential aspects of daily life (heating, unexpected expenses, access to leisure activities, etc.), which severely limits their quality of life. The two most common problems are the ability to face unexpected expenses (of around €1,450) and to afford one week annual holiday away from home.
Moreover, 4.9% of the population is in a situation of severe material and social deprivation (SMSD) in 2025. In other words, nearly one Belgian in twenty does not have sufficient resources to cover at least 7 of the 13 essential aspects of daily life, which further exacerbates their precarious situation.
When we look at the 13 criteria that make up the indicators of material and social deprivation, we see that the two most common difficulties relate to the ability to face unexpected expenses and to afford one week annual holiday away from home. 22.1% of the Belgian population report being unable to face unexpected expenses (of around €1,450) and 19.5% report not being able to afford one week annual holiday away from home. At the other end of the scale, 0.8% of the Belgian population say they cannot afford an internet connection at home and 1.7% cannot afford two pairs of shoes.
The situation varies greatly from region to region
Brussels has the highest deprivation rates for most aspects: for example, 40.7% are unable to face an unexpected expense, versus 31.6% in Wallonia and 13.6% in Flanders. Generally speaking, the Flemish Region systematically has the lowest deprivation rates: for example, 2.5% for the inability to pay bills as scheduled, compared to 9.1% in Wallonia and 7.4% in Brussels. Wallonia is often in between, but remains above the national level for most indicators.
Table. Material and social deprivation criteria per region
| Inability to ... | Belgium | Brussels-Capital Region | Flemish region | Walloon region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pay the bills as scheduled | 5.1% | 7.4% | 2.5% | 9.1% |
| afford one week's holiday away from home every year | 19.5% | 32.3% | 13.0% | 27.3% |
| afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish at least every second day | 4.8% | 12.8% | 2.0% | 7.5% |
| face an unexpected financial expense | 22.1% | 40.7% | 13.6% | 31.6% |
| buy a car | 5.7% | 17.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| keep their home adequately warm (for financial reasons) | 4.2% | 9.6% | 1.4% | 7.6% |
| replace damaged or worn out furniture | 15.3% | 30.9% | 9.6% | 20.4% |
| replace worn out or old-fashioned clothes by new ones | 7.0% | 13.0% | 5.0% | 8.6% |
| have two pairs of shoes (including a pair of all-weather shoes) | 1.7% | 3.1% | 1.0% | 2.5% |
| afford an Internet connection at home | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| get together with friends/family (relatives) for a drink/meal at least once a month | 8.1% | 12.4% | 6.0% | 10.4% |
| regularly participate in a leisure activity such as sport, cinema, concert, etc. | 10.6% | 11.5% | 6.9% | 17.2% |
| spend a small amount of money each week on yourself | 11.4% | 20.8% | 6.1% | 18.0% |
The inability to pay the bills as scheduled
The inability to pay bills on time is one of the most direct signs of financial difficulties. In 2025, 5.1% of the Belgian population reported being unable to pay their bills (rent, mortgage, energy, water, etc.) on time for financial reasons.
This difficulty varies greatly depending on the region. The Walloon Region has the highest rates, particularly in the province of Hainaut, where 15.0% of the population is affected. The provinces of Liège (6.4%) and Namur (5.7%) also have levels above the national average. Conversely, the Flemish provinces generally have lower rates, particularly in West Flanders (1.9%), Flemish Brabant (2.0%) and Limburg (2.2%). The Brussels-Capital Region is above the national average, with 7.4% of people affected.
Some socio-economic characteristics are associated with a higher risk of late bill payments:
- The phenomenon affects low-skilled people (6.8%) more than highly-skilled people (2.3%).
- Labour market status is also a discriminating factor: 16.2% of unemployed people report being unable to pay their bills on time, compared with 4.1% of self-employed people, 2.9% of employees and 1.5% of retired people.
- Housing situation also plays an important role. Tenants are particularly vulnerable, with 10.0% in a situation of late payment, versus 3.2% of homeowners.
- Finally, in terms of household composition, single-parent families (9.6%) have higher rates than households composed of two adults with children (5.9%) and people living alone (4.9%).
[1] The confidence intervals for MSD 2025 were revised on 04/03/2026
Percentage of the population in a situation of severely material and social deprivation (SMSD)
| Severe material and social deprivation - Belgium | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6.2% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 4.9% |
| Per region | |||||||
| Brussels-Capital Region | 13.8% | 13.6% | 11.5% | 11.2% | 14.0% | 13.9% | 9.9% |
| Flemish Region | 3.6% | 3.8% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.0% |
| Walloon Region | 8.5% | 9.5% | 7.9% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.7% | 6.6% |
| Per gender | |||||||
| Men | 6.1% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 5.9% | 4.6% |
| Women | 6.3% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 6.5% | 5.1% |
| Per age group | |||||||
| 0-17 | 8.4% | 7.9% | 8.6% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 6.8% |
| 18-24 | 4.7% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 6.2% | 3.1% |
| 25-49 | 6.4% | 7.1% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 6.6% | 4.9% |
| 50-64 | 7.1% | 7.5% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 6.0% | 6.6% | 5.6% |
| 65+ | 3.1% | 4.1% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 2.7% |
| Per household type | |||||||
| 1 adult with child(ren) | 16.7% | 18.7% | 16.6% | 16.2% | 13.9% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 2 adults with child(ren) | 4.9% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 6.1% | 4.4% |
| 2 adults without children, at least one 64+ | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| 2 adults without children, < 65 | 4.2% | 5.0% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| Single | 11.1% | 11.5% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 10.5% | 9.4% | 8.2% |
| Other | 4.6% | 4.9% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 6.6% | 6.0% | 3.2% |
Percentage of the population in a situation of material and social deprivation (MSD)
| Material and social deprivation - Belgium | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.1% | 9.4% | 10.5% | 11.1% | 9.4% |
| Per region | |||||||
| Brussels-Capital Region | 21.5% | 20.4% | 17.2% | 16.9% | 19.6% | 21.5% | 18.5% |
| Flemish Region | 6.5% | 6.6% | 6.8% | 5.4% | 6.1% | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Walloon Region | 15.5% | 15.7% | 14.0% | 14.4% | 15.5% | 16.2% | 14.1% |
| Per gender | |||||||
| Men | 10.6% | 10.4% | 9.9% | 8.8% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 9.0% |
| Women | 11.2% | 11.4% | 10.4% | 10.1% | 11.1% | 11.8% | 9.8% |
| Per age group | |||||||
| 0-17 | 13.0% | 11.7% | 12.2% | 10.5% | 12.0% | 13.8% | 11.7% |
| 18-24 | 8.3% | 10.3% | 9.9% | 8.2% | 10.0% | 11.1% | 8.1% |
| 25-49 | 11.4% | 11.4% | 10.6% | 9.8% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 9.8% |
| 50-64 | 12.5% | 13.1% | 11.2% | 10.9% | 11.1% | 12.4% | 10.7% |
| 65+ | 7.0% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| Per household type | |||||||
| 1 adult with child(ren) | 29.4% | 27.9% | 24.8% | 24.9% | 23.0% | 23.1% | 20.8% |
| 2 adults with child(ren) | 8.4% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 7.5% | 9.4% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| 2 adults without children, at least one 64+ | 4.9% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 3.0% |
| 2 adults without children, < 65 | 8.7% | 7.5% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 6.5% | 7.1% | 6.4% |
| Single | 18.4% | 18.6% | 15.8% | 16.8% | 16.8% | 16.2% | 14.9% |
| Other | 7.6% | 7.8% | 7.0% | 8.4% | 10.5% | 9.5% | 6.3% |
Purpose and brief description
EU-SILC (European Union - Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) is a survey on income and living conditions and an important tool to map poverty and social exclusion at both Belgian and European level.
The objective of this survey is to establish a global framework for the production of 'Community' statistical data on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), including both coherent cross-sectional and longitudinal data on income and poverty (level, composition,...) at national and European level.
The survey is carried out in Belgium and in the other EU Member States and is coordinated by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In Belgium, the SILC is organised by Statbel.
Population
Private households in Belgium
Data collection method and sample size
CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) - CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview).
Response rate
± 60% (N= ± 6.000 households)
Periodicity
Annually.
Release calendar
First quarter after survey year
Forms
Definitions
Risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE)
The risk of poverty or social exclusion, abbreviated AROPE, refers to the situation in which individuals are faced with at least one of the 3 following poverty risks: monetary poverty, severe material and social deprivation or living in a household with very low work intensity. The AROPE rate, the share of the total population at risk of poverty or social exclusion, is the main indicator for monitoring the ‘EU 2030’ target on poverty and social exclusion.
Poverty risk = Monetary poverty risk (AROP)
The at-risk-of-poverty rate (AROP) is the percentage of people with an equivalised disposable income (after social transfer) below the poverty threshold.
The indicator does not measure wealth or poverty, but low income in comparison to other residents in that country. This does not necessarily imply a low standard of living.
Poverty risk before social transfers: Percentage of people whose equivalised disposable income after deduction of all social transfers falls below the poverty threshold.
Poverty risk before social transfers, excluding pensions: Percentage of people whose equivalised disposable income after deduction of social transfers, excluding pensions, falls below the poverty threshold.
Material and social deprivation rate (MSD) and severe material and social deprivation (SMSD)
The material and social deprivation rate refers to the inability to afford some goods/services considered by most people to be desirable or even necessary to lead an adequate life. The indicator distinguishes between individuals who cannot afford a certain good/service/activity, and those who do not have this good/service/activity for another reason, e.g. because they do not want or do not need it.
The EU-SILC survey asks households about their financial (in)ability to:
- Pay the bills as scheduled
- Take every year one week’s holiday away from home
- Eat a meal with meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian equivalent every second day
- Face unexpected financial expenses
- Afford a car
- Keep the home warm
- Replace damaged or worn-out furniture
In addition, people are asked about their individual financial (in)ability to:
- Replace worn out or old-fashioned clothes by new ones
- Have two pairs of shoes in good condition
- Afford an internet connection at home
- Get together with friends/family (relatives) for a drink/meal at least once a month
- Participate regularly in a leisure activity
- Spend a small amount of money each week on yourself
The material and social deprivation rate (MSD) is defined as the enforced inability to pay for at least five of the above-mentioned items.
The severe material and social deprivation rate (SMSD) is defined as the enforced inability to pay for at least seven of the above-mentioned items.
Low work intensity (LWI)
The indicator persons living in households with very low work intensity is defined as the number of persons living in a household where the members of working age worked a working time less than 20% of their total work-time potential during the previous 12 months.
The work intensity of a household is the ratio of the total number of months that all working-age household members have worked during the income reference year and the total number of months the same household members theoretically could have worked in the same period.
An employee of working age is a person aged 18-59, excluding students aged 18-24. Households composed only of children, of students aged less than 25 and/or people aged 60 or more are completely excluded from the indicator calculation.
Level of education
The level of education is measured using a detailed questionnaire, and the people are then divided into three groups.
Low-skilled people are people who list lower secondary education as their highest level of education. Medium-skilled people are people who obtained a diploma of higher secondary education but not of higher education. High-skilled people obtained a diploma of higher education.
Comments
Break in the series in 2013 for unemployed persons (until 2012 early retired persons were considered as unemployed persons based on the nature of their income).
Since 2013 this category of individuals has been classified in the same category as (anticipatively) retired persons or persons in a position of non-activity before retirement. This classification better reflects the distribution advocated by Eurostat, in which early retired persons should only be considered as unemployed persons if they intend to re-enter the labour market.
The rise in the poverty rate among the unemployed population in 2013 is therefore due to a technical cause and does not reflect any fundamental change in the actual situation.
SILC 2013: break in the series for the unemployed
SILC 2016 to 2018:figures revised on 12/03/2020
SILC 2019:break in time series due to major survey reform
SILC 2020: Impact COVID-19 situation on SILC 2020 results
SILC 2021: From SILC 2021, real property withholding tax will be included in the disposable income.
SILC 2019 to 2024 : Figures revised on 01/10/2025
In the quality reports from SILC 2021 onwards, there is an annex 8, “Break in time series,” with more detailed information about breaks in the series.
Legislation
EU-SILC 2004 to 2020 was implemented under a framework regulation, mandatory for all EU Member States:REGULATION (EC) No 1177/2003 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 June 2003 concerning Community statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC).
From SILC 2021 onwards there is the REGULATION (EU) 2019/1700 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL. This framework regulation for integrated European Social Statistics (IESS) and the underlying implementing regulations for EU-SILC constitute the new legal framework. The development of the statistical infrastructure under IESS is supported by European grants.