Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

In 2019 (according to SILC 2020), the at-risk-of-poverty threshold or relative poverty line, calculated as 60% of the median equivalised income, amounted to, on average, RSD 22,000 per month for a single-person household, and RSD 46,200 for a four-person household with two adults and two children up to the age of 14. Expressed in purchasing power standards (PPS^[1]), the at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single-person household amounts to 330 PPS monthly.

The at-risk-of-poverty threshold in the Republic of Serbia is lower than the threshold in all 28 EU Member States and also in other Balkan countries (except North Macedonia and Albania)^[2].

The table below shows alternative poverty lines and the sensitivity of the at-risk-of-poverty rate depending on the choice of poverty line. The percentage of change in the at-risk-of-poverty rate is higher than the percentage of change in the poverty line, indicating a considerable concentration of the population around the poverty line.

Raising the poverty line from 60% to 70% of the median equivalized income would increase the at-risk-of-poverty rate by 5.9 percentage points (from 21.7% to as high as 27.6%), while lowering the poverty line from 60% to 50% of the median equivalized income would decrease the at-risk-of-poverty rate by 7.6 percentage points (from 21.7% to 14.1%). The sensitivity of the at-risk-of-poverty rate did not change compared to the previous reporting period.

According to SILC (2020) data, the at-risk-of-poverty rate (share of persons with income by consumption unit below 60% of the median of the equivalent income in the total population) was 21.7%, and it represented the lowest at-risk-of-poverty rate in the observed survey implementation period.

Selected relative poverty indicators in the Republic of Serbia, 2013-2020

Source: Eurostat database Table At-risk-of-poverty thresholds; At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold, age and sex.

Note:

• Household income does not include in-kind income.

• The reference period being the previous calendar year for income components.

The analysis of the profile of relatively poor persons indicates the following:

• Regarding sex, no significant differences are noted in the risk of poverty between men and women at the level of the overall population;
• Children (up to 18 years of age) are most at risk of poverty;
• Risk of poverty is significantly higher in rural areas;
• Those with lower levels of education are considerably more vulnerable;
• The unemployed are in the worst position, since nearly one in two unemployed persons (46.7%) are exposed to a risk of poverty;
• Individuals living in households with dependent children, and/or households with two adults with three or more dependent children, as well as single-parent families, have been most at risk of poverty according to SILC (2020) data.

Relative poverty profile, SILC 2013-2020

Source: Eurostat database Tables At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold, age and sex; At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold and household type; At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold and most frequent activity in the previous year; At-risk-of-poverty rate by degree of urbanization, At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold and educational attainment level.

Note: for all families, the term “children” means “dependent children”.

For more information on relative poverty in Serbia, see:

• The Third National Report on Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction in the Republic of Serbia for the Period 2014–2017
• The Second National Report on Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction in the Republic of Serbia
• Measuring Poverty – Theoretical Concepts, Status and Recommendations on Serbia
• Serbia – Income and Living Conditions
• Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia – Poverty and Inequality, 2019
• Monitoring Social Inclusion in Republic of Serbia – Third Revised Edition
• Monitoring Social Inclusion in Republic of Serbia – Poverty and inequality indicators
• Monitoring Social Inclusion in Republic of Serbia – Material deprivation indicators
• Monitoring Social Inclusion in Republic of Serbia – Social and child protection indicators
• Monitoring Social Inclusion in Republic of Serbia – Social protection and welfare indicators
• Assessment of Absolute Poverty in Serbia in 2019
• Data on material deprivation for the EU and Serbia available at ec.europa.eu

—————

[1] Purchasing power standards (PPS) based on the converter for HFCE (Household Final Consumption Expenditure)

[2] Eurostat database Table At-risk-of-poverty thresholds