One in five Belgian households faces energy poverty risk

Nearly one in five Belgian households, or about 19.8 per cent, is vulnerable to at least one form of energy poverty, according to new figures released by the Federal Public Service (FPS) Economy on Tuesday.

Energy poverty means not having enough access to essential energy services such as heating, hot water, lighting or electricity for daily needs. Many families struggle to pay energy bills, keep their homes warm, or cover other essential expenses.

The report, based on data from Statbel’s income and living conditions survey, identifies three types of energy poverty. Around 14.8 per cent of households spend an unusually high share of their income on energy, 2.6 per cent are thought to limit their energy use below basic needs, and 4.1 per cent say they cannot afford to heat their homes properly in winter.

When all categories are combined, nearly one in five Belgian households is considered at risk. The problem is most common among unemployed people, single parents and those living alone.

On average, affected households spend 13.6 per cent of their income on energy, compared to 6.2 per cent for the general population. Poor housing quality plays a major role: people living in poorly insulated or older homes are far more likely to face energy poverty.

^{© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM}