In addition to the labour force and household budget surveys, a survey on living conditions for social welfare recipients was also undertaken. A sample of 2500 individuals receiving social benefits was taken, distributed geographically based on the proportion of social welfare recipients in each city or region. According to the results of the survey, the living conditions for social welfare recipients are not significantly worse than the national average. Families living in very bad conditions are not numerous enough to affect the general picture within the sample. The surveys show that poverty has become long-term, leading to the social exclusion of many people.
Poverty has a severe impact on the future of Lithuania.
Statistics show that it is mostly concentrated amongst people of working age for example, young married couples with two or more children are significantly more likely to live in poverty than the average Lithuanian resident. At present, young families often have to choose between the alternatives of raising a child in poverty, or not having one. The UNDP and ILO-CEET have agreed to focus, in a further stage of the Poverty Initiative, on the policy implications of the findings. They will also formulate recommendations on alleviating poverty in Lithuania. MR Go back to Table of Contents , Newsletter archive or ILO-CEET homepage .