Cyprus among countries with lowest food deprivation rates

Out of people that were at risk of poverty in Cyprus in 2022, 5.6% were unable to afford a meal containing meat, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every second day (19.7% in the EU), which was an increase compared to the last year, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU.

This increase was also observed on the EU level, with the percentage reaching 19.7%, 2.2 percentage points (pp) higher than in 2021 (17.5%). This percentage in Cyprus increased from 2.4% in 2021 to 5.6% in 2022.

Compared to the total EU population (that is beyond those people that were at risk of poverty), 8.3% of the EU population were unable to afford a proper meal as defined above, one pp higher compared with 2021 (7.3%).

In Cyprus, the percentage of people who could not afford a proper meal out of the country’s total population in 2022 was 1.5%, having increased compared to 2021 (0.4%).

Among member states, the highest share of people at risk of poverty unable to afford a proper meal was recorded in Bulgaria (44.6%), followed by Romania (43.0%) and Slovakia (40.5%).

On the other hand, the lowest share was recorded in Ireland (5.0%), followed by Luxembourg (5.1%) and Cyprus (5.6%).

The capacity to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish, or vegetarian equivalent every second day is among the items observed at the household level to calculate the severe material and social deprivation rate.