Energy poverty, 2024
The number of energy-poor households in 2024 about the same as the year before
There were around 63,000 energy poor households in Slovenia in 2024. About 110,000 persons were living in them or 1,000 more than a year before.
Almost the same share of energy poor households as a year before
Last year the energy poverty rate of households in Slovenia was 7.3%. Compared to the previous year, the share was only 0.1 of a percentage point higher. About 63,000 households were energy poor and about 110,000 persons were living in them, or 1,000 more than a year before.
Among energy-poor households there were about 51,000 households without dependent children and 11,000 households with dependent children.
Energy poverty is gradually declining
A comparison over a longer period shows that energy poverty is gradually declining; it was the lowest in 2021. Between 2014 and 2024, the share of energy poor households decreased by a third or by 25,000.
The share of energy poor households the largest among one person households
As in the previous year, the share of energy poor households in 2024 was the largest among one person households (14.3%); among the elderly (65 years or older) it was higher (15.1%) than among the younger (13.5%). Among households with dependent children, the share of energy poor was the highest in single parent households with at least one dependent child (13.7%). In all other households with dependent children, the share of energy-poor households was lower than 5%. It was the lowest among households of at least three adults with dependent children (1.9%).
The share of energy poor households the lowest in the Osrednjeslovenska statistical region, the highest in Koroška and Obalno-kraška
Last year, the share of energy poor households ranged from 3.9% in the Osrednjeslovenska statistical region to 10.4% in Koroška and Obalno-kraška. As regards cohesion regions, in Zahodna Slovenija it was much lower (5.2%) than in Vzhodna Slovenija (9.2%). Compared to 2023, the share of energy poor households decreased in five out of eight statistical regions of Vzhodna Slovenija and in one out of four statistical regions of Zahodna Slovenija. In the other six regions it went up.
The most common cause is inadequate housing conditions
As in previous years, inadequate housing conditions, such as problems with leaking roof, damp walls/floors/foundations or rot in window frames/floors in the dwelling, contributed the most to the ranking of households below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold among the energy poor, followed by being unable to pay utility bills (water, electricity, heating, etc.), while being unable to keep home adequately warm contributed to the energy poverty of households the least.
Compared to 2023, the share of households that were financially unable to keep home adequately warm decreased by 0.2 of a percentage point (p.p.), the share of households that were late in paying utility bills due to financial difficulties remained the same (6.1%), while the shares of households exposed to the other two elements of energy poverty increased: the share of households below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold by 0.7 p.p. and the share of households living in inadequate housing conditions by 0.9 p.p.
In the 2014–2024 period, fewer households were exposed to three out of four elements on which the calculation of energy poverty is based: the share of households that were late in paying utility bills due to financial difficulties declined by two thirds, the share of households that were financially unable to keep home adequately warm and the share of households living in inadequate housing conditions decreased by more than a third (the former by 39%, the latter by 34%). On the other hand, the share of households below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold increased slightly in the same period (by 6%).
Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database under the themes Quality of life and Energy.
Last year the energy poverty rate of households in Slovenia was 7.3%. Compared to the previous year, the share was only 0.1 of a percentage point higher. About 63,000 households were energy poor and about 110,000 persons were living in them, or 1,000 more than a year before.
Among energy-poor households there were about 51,000 households without dependent children and 11,000 households with dependent children.
Energy poverty is gradually declining
A comparison over a longer period shows that energy poverty is gradually declining; it was the lowest in 2021. Between 2014 and 2024, the share of energy poor households decreased by a third or by 25,000.
The share of energy poor households the largest among one person households
As in the previous year, the share of energy poor households in 2024 was the largest among one person households (14.3%); among the elderly (65 years or older) it was higher (15.1%) than among the younger (13.5%). Among households with dependent children, the share of energy poor was the highest in single parent households with at least one dependent child (13.7%). In all other households with dependent children, the share of energy-poor households was lower than 5%. It was the lowest among households of at least three adults with dependent children (1.9%).
The share of energy poor households the lowest in the Osrednjeslovenska statistical region, the highest in Koroška and Obalno-kraška
Last year, the share of energy poor households ranged from 3.9% in the Osrednjeslovenska statistical region to 10.4% in Koroška and Obalno-kraška. As regards cohesion regions, in Zahodna Slovenija it was much lower (5.2%) than in Vzhodna Slovenija (9.2%). Compared to 2023, the share of energy poor households decreased in five out of eight statistical regions of Vzhodna Slovenija and in one out of four statistical regions of Zahodna Slovenija. In the other six regions it went up.
The most common cause is inadequate housing conditions
As in previous years, inadequate housing conditions, such as problems with leaking roof, damp walls/floors/foundations or rot in window frames/floors in the dwelling, contributed the most to the ranking of households below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold among the energy poor, followed by being unable to pay utility bills (water, electricity, heating, etc.), while being unable to keep home adequately warm contributed to the energy poverty of households the least.
Compared to 2023, the share of households that were financially unable to keep home adequately warm decreased by 0.2 of a percentage point (p.p.), the share of households that were late in paying utility bills due to financial difficulties remained the same (6.1%), while the shares of households exposed to the other two elements of energy poverty increased: the share of households below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold by 0.7 p.p. and the share of households living in inadequate housing conditions by 0.9 p.p.
In the 2014–2024 period, fewer households were exposed to three out of four elements on which the calculation of energy poverty is based: the share of households that were late in paying utility bills due to financial difficulties declined by two thirds, the share of households that were financially unable to keep home adequately warm and the share of households living in inadequate housing conditions decreased by more than a third (the former by 39%, the latter by 34%). On the other hand, the share of households below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold increased slightly in the same period (by 6%).
Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database under the themes Quality of life and Energy.
METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
In accordance with the Decree on the Criteria for Defining and Assessing the Number of Energy-poor Households (Ur. l. RS, No. 132/2022 of 14 October 2022), energy poor households are defined as households that had an income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold in the year prior to the Living Conditions survey (EU-SILC) and met at least one of the following three criteria: they were financially unable to keep home adequately warm, they were unable to pay utility bills (waste disposal, water, electricity, heating, etc.), which also include energy services, on time due to financial difficulties (in the last 12 months prior to the survey) and/or they had problems with leaking roofs, damp walls/floors/foundations or rot in window frames/floors in their dwellings (lived in inadequate housing conditions).
In energy poverty calculations, we do not take into account the energy prices (including network charges and other contributions payable from them) or household energy expenditures, nor their consumption.
The source of data is the EU comparable Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), which was implemented with the survey in 2024 (survey year) and the use of administrative sources and registers mostly referring to 2023 (income reference year). The calculation of the at-risk-of-poverty threshold for 2024 is based on (net) disposable household income received in 2023.
Additional explanations are available in Chapter 6 of methodological explanations.
In energy poverty calculations, we do not take into account the energy prices (including network charges and other contributions payable from them) or household energy expenditures, nor their consumption.
The source of data is the EU comparable Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), which was implemented with the survey in 2024 (survey year) and the use of administrative sources and registers mostly referring to 2023 (income reference year). The calculation of the at-risk-of-poverty threshold for 2024 is based on (net) disposable household income received in 2023.
Additional explanations are available in Chapter 6 of methodological explanations.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
.jpg)