Living conditions, 2021
Material capabilities of households improved
In 2021, 29% of households made ends meet without difficulty, which is 9 percentage points more than the year before. More households than the year before could afford a one-week annual holiday (2020: 77%; 2021: 81%) and settled unexpected expenses (2020: 66%; 2021: 73%).
Housing conditions of households improved
In 2021, 81% of households (compared to 78% in 2020) estimated that their dwelling was in good condition: they had no difficulties, such as a leaking roof, damp walls/floors/foundation, rot in window frames or the floor. 98% of households estimated that they lived in an adequately warm dwelling and 85% that in the summertime the dwelling was cold enough. 37% of households had air-conditioning in the dwelling.
Households make ends meet more easily
An important aspect of the quality of living is also how people subjectively perceive their financial situation. Compared to 2020, the share of households that made ends meet without difficulty (easy or very easy) increased by 9 percentage points (p.p.) to 29%. On the other hand, the share of households that made ends meet with difficulty (difficult or very difficult) decreased by 7 p.p. (from 20% to 13%). 26% of households declared that they had the ability to make ends meet with some difficulty, while 32% of households stated that they made ends meet quite easily.
The number of severely materially and socially deprived persons lower
The severe material and social deprivation rate was 1.6% in 2021, 1 percentage point lower than the year before. This means that about 33,000 people (53,000 in 2020) were living in households that could not afford at least seven of the thirteen items used as indicators for material and social deprivation due to lack of financial resources:
1) to pay rent or mortgage, utility bills, loan payments,
2) to keep home adequately warm,
3) to face unexpected expenses in the amount of at-risk-of- poverty threshold (EUR 700),
4) to eat meat, fish or a protein equivalent every second day,
5) a week of holiday away from home,
6) a car,
7) to replace worn-out furniture,
8) to replace worn-out clothes with some new ones,
9) to have two pairs of properly fitting shoes,
10) to get together with friends/relatives for a drink/meal at least once a month,
11) to have regular leisure activities,
12) to spend a small amount of money each week on him/herself (“pocket money”),
13) to have an internet connection.
Among the main reasons for a lower severe material and social deprivation rate are a larger number of households where all members could afford a holiday, which was also influenced by tourist vouchers; more households could afford unexpected expenses, which could be attributed to greater savings due to store closures and other COVID-19-related measures; a smaller number of people did not participate in paid leisure activities and socialized with friends/relatives due to financial reasons, because people probably subjectively attached more importance to restrictive measures due to COVID-19 than to financial restrictions.
About the same share of households in arrears to pay their financial obligations
The total housing costs, which include possibly also the rent or mortgage repayments, were a heavy burden for 21% of households in 2021, i.e. 6 p.p. fewer than the year before. The percentage of households for which total housing costs were not a burden at all increased from 14% to 19%.
In the 12-month period before the survey in 2021, 8% of households were in arrears to pay utility costs, possibly rent or mortgage, other loans or purchase instalments at least once because of financial difficulties, which is 2 p.p. fewer at the annual level and 12 p.p. fewer than in 2014, when the largest share of households was in arrears.
12% of households that rent their dwelling were in arrears to pay rent at least once in the past 12 months, which is the same share as in 2020.
Socializing and leisure activities were influenced by COVID-19 epidemic measures
The share of persons aged 16+ who got together with friends/relatives for a drink/meal was 68%, 25 p.p. higher than in 2019 (93%), prior to the COVID-19 epidemic. The share of persons who could not afford to get together because of financial difficulties was 2%, 27% of people did not socialize due to COVID-19 and related measures, and 3% of people due to other reasons.
39% of persons aged 16+ regularly participated in leisure activities (e.g. sport, cinema, concerts, etc.) that have to be paid, which is16 p.p. fewer than in 2019, prior to COVID-19. The share of persons who could not afford to participate in such activities due to financial difficulties was 8%, 19% of people did not participate due to COVID-19 and related measures, and 34% of people due to other reasons.
The occurrence of COVID-19 had no effect on the mental health of more than half of the people
In the period of 12 months before the survey, persons assessed the impact of the health crisis of COVID-19 on their mental health. More than half (53%) of those aged 16+ believed the COVID-19 crisis had no impact on their mental health. 43% of persons expressed it had a negative impact, and 4% that the occurrence of COVID-19 had a positive impact on their mental health.
In 2021, 81% of households (compared to 78% in 2020) estimated that their dwelling was in good condition: they had no difficulties, such as a leaking roof, damp walls/floors/foundation, rot in window frames or the floor. 98% of households estimated that they lived in an adequately warm dwelling and 85% that in the summertime the dwelling was cold enough. 37% of households had air-conditioning in the dwelling.
Households make ends meet more easily
An important aspect of the quality of living is also how people subjectively perceive their financial situation. Compared to 2020, the share of households that made ends meet without difficulty (easy or very easy) increased by 9 percentage points (p.p.) to 29%. On the other hand, the share of households that made ends meet with difficulty (difficult or very difficult) decreased by 7 p.p. (from 20% to 13%). 26% of households declared that they had the ability to make ends meet with some difficulty, while 32% of households stated that they made ends meet quite easily.
The number of severely materially and socially deprived persons lower
The severe material and social deprivation rate was 1.6% in 2021, 1 percentage point lower than the year before. This means that about 33,000 people (53,000 in 2020) were living in households that could not afford at least seven of the thirteen items used as indicators for material and social deprivation due to lack of financial resources:
1) to pay rent or mortgage, utility bills, loan payments,
2) to keep home adequately warm,
3) to face unexpected expenses in the amount of at-risk-of- poverty threshold (EUR 700),
4) to eat meat, fish or a protein equivalent every second day,
5) a week of holiday away from home,
6) a car,
7) to replace worn-out furniture,
8) to replace worn-out clothes with some new ones,
9) to have two pairs of properly fitting shoes,
10) to get together with friends/relatives for a drink/meal at least once a month,
11) to have regular leisure activities,
12) to spend a small amount of money each week on him/herself (“pocket money”),
13) to have an internet connection.
Among the main reasons for a lower severe material and social deprivation rate are a larger number of households where all members could afford a holiday, which was also influenced by tourist vouchers; more households could afford unexpected expenses, which could be attributed to greater savings due to store closures and other COVID-19-related measures; a smaller number of people did not participate in paid leisure activities and socialized with friends/relatives due to financial reasons, because people probably subjectively attached more importance to restrictive measures due to COVID-19 than to financial restrictions.
About the same share of households in arrears to pay their financial obligations
The total housing costs, which include possibly also the rent or mortgage repayments, were a heavy burden for 21% of households in 2021, i.e. 6 p.p. fewer than the year before. The percentage of households for which total housing costs were not a burden at all increased from 14% to 19%.
In the 12-month period before the survey in 2021, 8% of households were in arrears to pay utility costs, possibly rent or mortgage, other loans or purchase instalments at least once because of financial difficulties, which is 2 p.p. fewer at the annual level and 12 p.p. fewer than in 2014, when the largest share of households was in arrears.
12% of households that rent their dwelling were in arrears to pay rent at least once in the past 12 months, which is the same share as in 2020.
Socializing and leisure activities were influenced by COVID-19 epidemic measures
The share of persons aged 16+ who got together with friends/relatives for a drink/meal was 68%, 25 p.p. higher than in 2019 (93%), prior to the COVID-19 epidemic. The share of persons who could not afford to get together because of financial difficulties was 2%, 27% of people did not socialize due to COVID-19 and related measures, and 3% of people due to other reasons.
39% of persons aged 16+ regularly participated in leisure activities (e.g. sport, cinema, concerts, etc.) that have to be paid, which is16 p.p. fewer than in 2019, prior to COVID-19. The share of persons who could not afford to participate in such activities due to financial difficulties was 8%, 19% of people did not participate due to COVID-19 and related measures, and 34% of people due to other reasons.
The occurrence of COVID-19 had no effect on the mental health of more than half of the people
In the period of 12 months before the survey, persons assessed the impact of the health crisis of COVID-19 on their mental health. More than half (53%) of those aged 16+ believed the COVID-19 crisis had no impact on their mental health. 43% of persons expressed it had a negative impact, and 4% that the occurrence of COVID-19 had a positive impact on their mental health.
METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
Provisional data for 2021 are prepared on the basis of the internationally comparable Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) and were collected with the survey questionnaire in 2021. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, for the first time, data were collected only with telephone interviewing, because personal interviewing was not possible. Mainly due to unavailability of telephone numbers, the response rate was much lower than in previous years. Furthermore, the data collection period was much longer – from February to the end of September. By 2020, data were collected by telephone interviewing and also by personal interviewing in the first half of the year. For 2020, data were collected in two periods (15 January–15 March and 15 May–15 September). The data for 2021 are not completely comparable with the data from previous years nor with 2020 data, since the survey had to be stopped. Data from registers and administrative sources will be added later.
The final data for 2021 may differ slightly from the provisional data due to additional data from other sources and further statistical processing. They will be published on 16 June 2022 together with final data in the field of "Indicators of income, poverty and social exclusion". More detailed data by various cross-sections will be published in the SiStat Database on 7 July 2022.
The final data from the ad hoc module Living conditions of children, Slovenia, 2021 will be published on 22 September 2022, while detailed data from the same ad hoc module will be published on 20 October 2022.
In previous publications of provisional data from the Living Conditions Survey, the only published indicator of income, poverty and social exclusion was the “severe material deprivation rate” (deprivation for at least 4 out of 9 elements). It is one of the three indicators (in addition to the at-risk-of-poverty rate and the very low work-intensity rate) used to calculate the "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate", which was used to monitor the Europe 2020 Strategy goals at the EU level. From 2021 onwards, the achievement of the goals of the EU strategy until 2030 will be monitored with the indicator "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate", calculated for all EU Member States according to a slightly changed methodology.
Today we are publishing for the first time the indicator "severe material and social deprivation rate" (deprivation for at least 7 out of 13 elements), which in 2021 replaced the indicator "severe material deprivation rate" (deprivation for at least 4 out of 9 elements) in the calculation of the "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate". The "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate", calculated according to the new methodology, will be published for 2021, with the publication of final indicators of income, poverty and social exclusion. Data from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) enable the calculation of indicators according to the changed methodology for a longer time series, which will also be published. Indicators according to the new methodology for the 2015-2020 period for all EU Member States have already been published on the Eurostat website.
For detailed explanations, please see: metodological explanations Living conditions and Income, poverty and social exclusion Indicators
The final data for 2021 may differ slightly from the provisional data due to additional data from other sources and further statistical processing. They will be published on 16 June 2022 together with final data in the field of "Indicators of income, poverty and social exclusion". More detailed data by various cross-sections will be published in the SiStat Database on 7 July 2022.
The final data from the ad hoc module Living conditions of children, Slovenia, 2021 will be published on 22 September 2022, while detailed data from the same ad hoc module will be published on 20 October 2022.
In previous publications of provisional data from the Living Conditions Survey, the only published indicator of income, poverty and social exclusion was the “severe material deprivation rate” (deprivation for at least 4 out of 9 elements). It is one of the three indicators (in addition to the at-risk-of-poverty rate and the very low work-intensity rate) used to calculate the "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate", which was used to monitor the Europe 2020 Strategy goals at the EU level. From 2021 onwards, the achievement of the goals of the EU strategy until 2030 will be monitored with the indicator "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate", calculated for all EU Member States according to a slightly changed methodology.
Today we are publishing for the first time the indicator "severe material and social deprivation rate" (deprivation for at least 7 out of 13 elements), which in 2021 replaced the indicator "severe material deprivation rate" (deprivation for at least 4 out of 9 elements) in the calculation of the "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate". The "at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate", calculated according to the new methodology, will be published for 2021, with the publication of final indicators of income, poverty and social exclusion. Data from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) enable the calculation of indicators according to the changed methodology for a longer time series, which will also be published. Indicators according to the new methodology for the 2015-2020 period for all EU Member States have already been published on the Eurostat website.
For detailed explanations, please see: metodological explanations Living conditions and Income, poverty and social exclusion Indicators
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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