Living conditions, Slovenia, 2016

Dwelling conditions better than in the past
In 2016, 24% of households had difficulties such as leaking roof, damp walls/foundation, rot in window frames or floor. This was 3 percentage points less than in 2015. Other factors also influenced the living conditions, such as pollution of environment, noise, too dark dwelling and difficulties with crime, violence or vandalism. 16 % of households had problems with pollution (the same percentage as in 2015), difficulties with noise were in 15% of households (1 percentage point more than in 2015). 5% of households thought that they lived in the too dark dwellings. Difficulties with crime, violence or vandalism were mentioned by 9% of households. The last two difficulties decreased by one percentage point in comparison to 2015.

Financial capabilities better
The share of households that had the ability to make ends meet without difficulty (easy, very easy) increased by two percentage points: from 12% (in 2014 and 2015) to 14% (in 2016). At the same time the share of households that made ends meet with difficulty (difficulty, great difficulty) decreased by 3 percentage points in 2 years: from 32% in 2014 to 29% in 2016.
51% of tenants households declared that they had difficulty to make ends meet (difficulty, great difficulty), the same problem was reported by 25% of households who are owner of the flat.
The most households with difficulty (difficulty, great difficulty) were in the Koroška statistical region (48% of households) and the least in the Primorsko-notranjska statistical region (22%).

More than two of three households can afford holidays
69% households could afford annually holidays outside home for all households members, including the holidays at their relatives, summer home, etc. In 2016 this was one percentage point more than in the previous year and four percentage points more than in 2014. According to the type of household, the largest share were households with two parents and at least one dependent child who could afford holidays (82%), but in one person households 56% could afford holidays. The capabilities to afford the holidays were influenced by the household’s income. 30% of households with difficulty (difficulty, great difficulty) could afford holidays.

Chart 1: Households that could afford an annual one week holiday by the ability to make ends meet, Slovenia, 2016

Source: SURS

More households can afford unexpected expenses
In 2016, unexpected financial expenses in the amount of EUR 600 could be handled by 55% of households, which was by one percentage point more than in 2015 and by 4 percentage points more than in 2014.
Unexpected financial expenses could be handled by 5% of households which had great difficulty in making ends meet, but the majority of households (97%) which made ends meet very easily could afford unexpected expenses.

In general people are satisfied with the life
The highest self-assessment of overall life satisfaction was assessed by people living in the Osrednjeslovenska and Gorenjska statistical regions: 7.3 (on the scale from 0 – Not at all satisfied, to 10 – Completely satisfied), which was by 0.2 higher than the average in Slovenia (7.1). The overall life satisfaction was assessed with the lowest assessment by people in the Koroška statistical region (6.7).
The largest share of persons who were at risk of poverty and social exclusion was in the Posavska statistical region (22.6% of persons) and the smallest share was in the Primorsko-notranjska statistical region (12.9%), while the average assessment of overall life satisfaction in both regions was the same (7.0). This means that assessment of overall satisfaction does not depend only on financial and material aspects, but also much more widely, for example also on satisfaction with health, family, friends, social networks, hobbies, free time, etc.


Percentage of person that participate in leisure activities that have to be paid for increases
Percentages of persons aged 16+ who got together with friends/relatives for a drink/meal at least once a month increased by 7 percentage points in comparison with the last three years (in 2014: 83%, in 2015: 86%; in 2016: 90%).  Over the years more men (by approximately 3 percentage points) than woman participated in such meetings.
In comparison with 2014, the percentage of persons who regularly participated in leisure activities that had to be paid for (e.g. sport, cinema, concerts, etc.) increased by 15 percentage points (in 2014: 37%, in 2016: 52%).  More men (in 2016: 54%) participated in such activities than women (in 2016: 51%).
A small amount of money was spent each week on themselves for coffee, cake, drink, cinema, magazine, etc. by approximately the same share of people in 2016 (94%) as it was in  2015 (93%). In comparison to 2014, the share increased by 5 percentage points (in 2014: 89%). There were no significant differences between the sexes. 
 
Chart 2: Persons (aged 16 +) who due to financial reasons could not afford …, Slovenia

Source: SURS