Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) will keep collecting European Union statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) until the end of June. The survey will cover about eight thousand households (out of 825 thousand) selected with a random sampling method. CSB would like to thank everyone who has already taken part in the survey and completed questionnaire online. E-surveys were completed by 10 % of respondents.
Starting from the March 16, respondents will be contacted by phone or visited face-to-face. In 2023 face-to-face interviews will be conducted only in the case the epidemiological situation allows. Respondents will be informed about the planned date of the interview as well as get contacts of the interviewer in a CSB letter. Upon arrival, interviewer will present a CSB employee identification card with a photo.
In case of any questions or uncertainties respondents may contact the CSB consultant by calling to the toll-free assistance number +371 80008811 on weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00 o’clock or by writing to the e-mail address silc@csp.gov.lv.
Respondents will be asked about household composition, social and economic characteristics of household members as well as housing conditions, income, self-perceived health status, social exclusion, and material deprivation.
EU-SILC 2023 focuses on the labour market, intergenerational transmission of advantages and disadvantages as well as housing (housing difficulties, energy efficiency, etc.)
This year participation in the survey has a major importance as the results acquired will help to evaluate well-being of households and individuals in 2022, especially the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other geopolitical processes. The information collected will be extensively used by state and local authorities when making decisions that affect everyday life of the inhabitants. Therefore, responsiveness and cooperation of the respondents are significant to get accurate and fair insight into the life of the population.
CSB is obliged to ensure protection and confidentiality of the data respondents provide. The information acquired will only be published in a summarised form.
Key results of EU-SILC 2022
- In 2021, compared to 2020, household disposable income grew by 7.6 % and reached EUR 678 per household member monthly. The increase was slower than that recorded in 2020 (8.1 %).
- In 2021 monthly income per one household member in the poorest households (those belonging to the first quintile group) accounted for EUR 232, while in the richest (fifth quintile group) for EUR 1 475.
- The sharpest income upturn was registered in the households belonging to the second and third quintile group (12.1 % in each), followed by those in fourth (11.1 %). Disposable income in the households belonging to the group between the richest and poorest varied between EUR 412 per household member monthly in the second, EUR 570 in the third and EUR 801 in the fourth quintile group.
- Income inequality is also decreasing as the income of the richest households (belonging to the fifth quintile group) rises. However, in 2021 the income of the richest population was 6.3 times higher than that of the poorest (which is 0.3 times lower than in 2020). Gini coefficient, at the same time, accounted for 34.3 %, which is 1.4 percentage points fewer than in 2020.
- In 2021, 418 thousand people in Latvia (22.5 % of the total population) were at risk of poverty, which is 0.9 percentage points fewer than in 2020.
About the survey
EU-SILC is collected in all EU countries based on a common methodology. It aims at producing comparable information on various aspects influencing households and welfare of individuals.
More survey results are available on the official statistics portal:
Disposable income
Poverty and inequality (EU-SILC)
Private households and families
Housing
Self-perceived health and health-related habits
Quality of life
Media requests:
Information and Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366621, +371 27880666
stat.gov.lv
twitter.com/CSB_Latvia
facebook.com/csplatvija
More information on data:
Social Statistics Methodology Section
Darja Behtere
E-mail: Darja.Behtere@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366901