Think-tank: More people live in poverty

Think-tank Kraka concerned with rise in the number of people living below national poverty line

Fewer Danes can afford a hot dinner on the table each evening, according to the latest analysis by think-tank Kraka.

The analysis showed a doubling of people living under the national poverty line over the course of nine years.

According to Kraka, the number of poor people went from 23,500 in 2002 to 46,600 in 2011.

Almost every fifth Dane whose income is below the national poverty line lives in the public housing sector and a 75 percent majority of the poor people in that sector are foreigners from non-Western countries. 

READ MORE: First official poverty line established

Denmark got its first official poverty line in 2013. People earning less than 103,200 kroner a year before tax for three consecutive years are considered poor by the national standard.

Can't afford Christmas presents
That more people are getting through the day on a bare minimum can have serious societal consequences, according to Kraka economist Kristian Thor Jakobsen.

"After all, it means that you don't have the resources to experience the same things as the rest of society does," Jakobsen told DR Nyheder. "For instance, some families can't afford after-school activities for their kids or buying them the Christmas present they want."

It's especially southern Jutland that has been hit hardest by poverty as the number of poor people there rose from 2,800 in 2002 to 5,361 in 2011.

"Southern Jutland stands out in this area. There's been a larger rise of poverty here compared to the other parts of the country. It's very interesting that the differences are so huge," Jakobsen said.





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