According to Eurostat research, approximately 11% of individuals within the European Union struggle to maintain a warm temperature within their homes.
Countries with the highest percentages of shares were Spain and Portugal, both at 20.8%, followed by Bulgaria with 20.7%, Lithuania with 20.0%, and Greece with 19.2%.
Luxembourg had the lowest birth rates at 2.1%, followed by Finland at 2.6%, Slovenia at 3.6%, Austria at 3.9%, and Estonia at 4.1%.
Which social groups are most susceptible to risk and disadvantage?
The most susceptible social groups are single individuals with dependents.
Almost 19% of them face difficulties with low temperatures in their homes. Mediterranean countries are the most affected, with 42% in Cyprus, 34.5% in Greece, and 34% in Spain struggling with this issue.
Women living alone are the second most vulnerable group, with 14% unable to stay warm enough. The highest rates were recorded in Bulgaria (34%), Portugal (31%), and Lithuania (31%) for women who live alone.
Couples with two children had the lowest rate of individuals experiencing such issues: 7.6%.
The lowest rate in Europe reported in the Eurostat analysis for this social group was in Switzerland, at 0.2%.