Income and living conditions of the population of Lithuania
(edition 2022)

Material deprivation of children

 

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In order to measure the ability of households to meet the needs of their children, the 2021 Survey on Income and Living Conditions additionally surveyed households with children aged under 16 to see how lack of funds or other reasons influenced their ability to meet the needs of children. The publication provides information on the material deprivation faced by children due to lack of funds and comparison with the 2014 survey on this topic.

In 2021, 2.8 per cent of households with children aged under 16 could not afford to eat fresh fruit and vegetables at least once a day, 1.9 per cent – to eat meat, fish or equivalent vegetarian food.

Due to lack of funds, not all children had age-appropriate books, outdoor leisure equipment at home, could participate in leisure activities on a regular basis or go for a holiday for at least a week.


Proportion of households with children under 16 in which at least one of the children did not have or could not do the listed things due to lack of funds, 2014 and 2021

Created with Highcharts 6.1.4Per centPer cent1717171710106688552266440022554433332222111111111120142021Spend at least a week a year away from home on vacation, including stays at secondhome or at relatives', friends'Regularly participate in leisure activitiesReplace worn-out clothes by new ones (not second-hand)Eat fresh fruit and vegetables at least once a dayInvite friends to play and have a mealEat meat or fish (or vegetarian equivalent) at least once a dayHave age-appropriate books at homeHave outdoor leisure equipment at homeCelebrate special occasionsHave at least two pairs of properly fitting shoesHave indoor games at home0123456789101112131415161718

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

In 2021, compared to the 2014 Survey, smaller proportion of households indicated that their children faced the listed material deprivations due to lack of funds¹. A significant decrease was observed for the proportion of the households where at least one of children could not regularly participate in leisure activities and go for a holiday for at least a week due to lack of funds. However, the proportion of households where children’s participation in leisure activities or ability to go for a holiday were limited by other reasons, the main of which may have been the COVID‑19 pandemic, increased.
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¹ The comparison was slightly influenced by the fact that in 2021, households with children aged 0–15 were interviewed, in 2014 – households with children aged 1–15.

Children growing up with a single mother or father were significantly more likely to face material deprivation than children growing up with both parents.


Proportion of households with children under 16 in which at least one of the children did not have or could not do the listed things due to lack of funds, by household composition, 2021

Created with Highcharts 6.1.4Per centPer cent121211111010558855334444222233222222111111111111005566115544221122111111Lone parent with at least one child aged less than 16Couple with at least one child aged less than 16Other type of households with at least one child aged less than 16Spend at least a week a year away from home on vacation, including stays at secondhome or at relatives', friends'Regularly participate in leisure activitiesReplace worn-out clothes by new ones (not second-hand)Eat fresh fruit and vegetables at least once a dayInvite friends to play and have a mealEat meat or fish (or vegetarian equivalent) at least once a dayHave age-appropriate books at homeHave outdoor leisure equipment at homeCelebrate special occasionsHave at least two pairs of properly fitting shoesHave indoor games at home012345678910111213

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

Children growing up in households at risk of poverty were not only forced to limit their leisure needs due to a lack of funds, but also suffered from poorer nutrition, with a large proportion having to make do with second-hand clothes. In 2021, 15 per cent of households with children under 16 living at the risk of poverty could not afford to replace at least part of their children’s worn-out clothes with new (not second-hand) ones due to lack of funds. In 2021, 10 per cent of households with children under 16 living at the risk of poverty indicated that due lack of funds at least one of the children could not eat fruit and vegetables daily, 15 per cent – could not participate in leisure activities on a regular basis.

In 2021, one in 100 households with school-going children under the age of 16 indicated that at least one of the school-going children in the household did not participate in paid trips and events organized by the school due to lack of funds, and the same proportion did not have a suitable place to study and do homework.