Czech Republic has Lowest Poverty Rates in EU

But the report also showcases some revealing statistics for the Czech Republic, which features the lowest rates of both poverty and persistent poverty across all EU countries. 

In both categories, which measured poverty statistics from 2013, the Czech Republic was followed by Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Slovakia. Greece and Romania had the highest poverty levels among EU countries. 

Poverty rates across the EU as percentage of the total population (2013 figures):

Poverty here is defined in terms of income relative to a nation’s average income. A person is considered to be in poverty if they live in a household with a disposable income less than 60% of the national median. 

Persistent poverty is defined as living in poverty for both the current year and two of the three years prior.

Looking back at the years 2010-2013, the Czech Republic featured the lowest levels of number of years in poverty, followed by Netherlands, Slovenia, Finland, and France. 

Years in poverty across the EU as a percentage of total population (2010-13):

That suggests, perhaps, that most Czech residents are earning above the minimum wage levels set by the government.

Or that the median national income is low enough for most to avoid the poverty classification.