6 % of households in Latvia have been in arrears with utility bills in 2022
European Union statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC)1 compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) show that in 2022, 6 % of households due to financial difficulties had been in arrears on utility bills2 at least once during the past twelve months (6.1 % in 2021) while 6.3 % have been in arrears on rent or mortgage repayment for the main dwelling (6.4 % in 2021).
Households with children were unable to pay the utility bills on time the most often (10.7 % of lone parents with at least one child and 8.7 % of couples with three and more children), followed by one-person households formed by people aged 16–64 (8.6 %). Couples without any children and elderly people (aged 65 and over) living alone were in arrears with utility bills the least frequently (3.8 % and 3.6 %, respectively).
Single elderly spend one fifth of their income on housing
One household on average spends 12.2 % of its disposable income on housing. Housing costs3 imposed the heaviest financial burden on elderly population living alone (people aged 65 and over) – they spent 20.8 % of their disposable income on housing. Housing costs in households consisting of lone parents with at least one child took 18.3 % of their disposable income whereas in one-person households (people aged 16–64) 15.9 %. Couples with two children spent 11.2 % of their disposable income on housing while couples with three and more children as well as couples without any children 10.9 %.
OSP database table MAI010 and CSB estimate.
* Housing costs of the reference period are compared with the household disposable income in the previous period.
Methodological explanations
1 Information about housing costs was acquired in the survey European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) conducted by the CSB from 30 January to 30 June. The survey covered 5.8 thousand households and 10.3 thousand respondents aged 16 and over.
2 Utility bills cover payments for water, gas, electricity, heating, and waste disposal. Expenses related to additional facilities (i.e., television or internet subscription fees, phone bills, alarm costs, etc.) are not included.
3 Housing costs include cost of utilities (water, electricity, gas and heating), regular maintenance and repairs, real estate tax, rental payments (for tenants), mortgage principal payments (in case of mortgage taken for the purpose of buying the main dwelling), home insurance, and other costs related to the right to live in the accommodation. Expenses related to additional facilities (i.e., television or internet subscription fees, phone bills, alarm costs, etc.) are not included.
Media requests:
Information and Communication Section
E-mail media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: + 371 67366621, +371 27880666
More information on data:
Social Statistics Methodology Section
Darja Behtere
E-mail: Darja.Behtere@csp.gov.lv
Phone: + 371 67366901
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