In 2022, 8.3% of the EU population were unable to afford a meal containing meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, one percentage point (pp) higher compared with 2021 (7.3%). Moreover, considering people at risk of poverty – i.e. with incomes below 60% of the median equivalised disposable income – the share at EU level was 19.7%, 2.2 pp higher than in 2021 (17.5%).

In 2022, the difference between total and at-risk-of-poverty population in terms of capacity to afford a proper meal was also visible across EU countries: the highest share of people at risk of poverty unable to afford a proper meal was recorded in Bulgaria (44.6%), followed by Romania (43.0%) and Slovakia (40.5%). On the other hand, the lowest share was recorded in Ireland (5.0%), followed by Luxembourg (5.1%) and Cyprus (5.6%).

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20230710-1