Altogether 690,000 persons at risk of poverty in 2013

Statistics Finland's income distribution statistics indicate that a total of 690,000 persons were living at risk of poverty in 2013. Their proportion of the total population was 12.9 per cent. The number and proportion of persons at risk of poverty grew compared to 2012 but were slightly lower than in 2008 to 2011.

Number of persons at risk of poverty in Finland in 1987 to 2013*

*The data concerning 2013 are preliminary.

The number of persons at risk of poverty has since 2007 been around 700,000 and the share of the entire population has been 13 per cent, on average.

In 2013, the at-risk-of-poverty threshold was EUR 14,260 per year or EUR 1,190 per month. This was EUR 60 higher than one year before. The median income of households increased in 2013. The median income was EUR 23,770, which is EUR 100 higher than one year previously.

The at-risk-of-poverty threshold is calculated annually based on the national median income per consumption unit ¹⁾ . The at-risk-of-poverty threshold is 60 per cent of the national average income. Income refers to the monetary income after taxes and consists of earned income, property income, and other transfer income.

The number of persons at risk of poverty grew in particular close to the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, that is, among persons whose income was below 60 per cent but more than one-half of the median income (the yellow area in the figure). There are around 389,000 persons in this group, which is 43,000 more than in 2012. On the other hand, there are also slightly more persons at risk of poverty, whose income was less than 40 per cent of the national median income (the blue area in the figure). There were 130,000 persons in this group, which is around 17,000 more than in 2012.

The income of persons at risk of poverty grew relatively more than the income of the entire population. The median income of persons at risk of poverty was EUR 12,250, while one year earlier it was EUR 12,070. The poverty gap, i.e. the average distance of the income of persons at risk of poverty from the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, decreased from 15 to 14.1 per cent.

1) The consumption units are based on the so-called OECD's modified scale. One adult in the household is one consumption unit. Other persons in the household aged at least 14 each are 0.5 consumption units and children aged 0 to 13 each are 0.3 consumption units. A household with one adult member is one consumption unit, while a household consisting of spouses and one child aged under 14 together are 1.8 consumption units.

Source: Income Distribution Statistics 2013, preliminary data, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Kaisa-Mari Okkonen 029 551 3408

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 19.12.2014

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Income distribution statistics [e-publication].
ISSN=1799-1331. Income inequality (international comparison) 2013. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 20.4.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tjt/2013/01/tjt_2013_01_2014-12-19_tie_001_en.html