In 2007, one third of the EU27 population lived in a household that couldn't afford an unexpected expenditure, corresponding in each Member State to a set share of the national at-risk-of poverty threshold. In the EU27, 7% of population lived in a household that had been unable to pay as scheduled utility bills for their main dwelling in the last 12 months and 3% in a household that had been unable to pay either rent or mortgage payment.

More than half of the population in Latvia and Hungary (both 63%) and Poland (54%) lived in a household that was unable to afford an unexpected expenditure. On the other hand, only one fifth or less of the population lived in such a household in Sweden (18%), Denmark (19%) and Portugal (20%).

The highest shares of the population living in households that had been in arrears with utility bills were found in Hungary (18%), Poland (17%), Greece (16%) and Slovenia (11%). The highest shares of the population living in households that had been in arrears with either rent or mortgage were found in Greece (7%), France and Cyprus (both 6%).

9% of the EU population lived in a household that could not afford to buy a car

In 2007, 80% of the EU27 population lived in a household that possessed a car, 9% in a household that couldn't afford one and 11% in a household that had other reasons not to possess a car. The highest shares of the total population living in a household that couldn't afford a car were registered in Romania (56%), Latvia (30%), Slovakia (24%), Hungary (23%), Estonia (21%) and Poland (20%), and the lowest in Cyprus and Luxembourg (both 2%), France, Italy, Malta and Slovenia (all 3%), Spain and Sweden (both 4%).

Among dependent children, 86% lived in a household that possessed a car, 9% in a household that couldn't afford a car and 4% in a household that had other reasons not to possess a car. In all Member States, the percentage of dependent children who lived in a household with a car was significantly higher than for the total population.

9% of the EU population lived in a household that could not afford to buy a computer

In 2007, 68% of the EU27 population lived in a household that possessed a computer, 9% in a household that couldn't afford one and 23% in a household that had other reasons not to possess a computer. The highest shares of the total population living in a household that couldn't afford a computer were registered in Romania (43%), Latvia (24%) and Poland (21%), and the lowest in Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden (all 2%), Germany, Malta and the United Kingdom (all 4%).

In all Member States, the percentage of dependent children who lived in a household with a computer was higher than for the total population. In the EU27, 81% of children lived in households with a computer, 10% in households that couldn't afford one and 8% in households that had other reasons not to possess a computer.