Energy poverty. How does Poland fall on the background of Europe?

Energy poverty is a phenomenon that still affects millions of Europeans, including Poles. It gained special importance after the energy crisis of 2022–2023. To assess the scale of the problem, Eurostat uses data from the EU-SILC study, based on subjective assessments of residents regarding the conditions of heating their homes. Recently published Eurostat statistics also include Poland. Experts of the RynekPierwotny.pl portal, who pay attention to the significant, although often overlooked in the Polish public debate, look at new information.

Energy poverty – Eurostat research

As experts note, in the context of energy poverty comparisons, it is most often said about data that Eurostat collects during the EU-SILC survey.

– During the said study, residents of individual countries are asked if the financial situation allows them to properly warm their housing. The following map presents the results of the answer to such a question. It is about the participation of the inhabitants of the country who are not able to maintain the right temperature in their apartment – notes Andrzej Prajsnar, expert of the RynekPierwotny.pl portal.

Energy poverty in Poland

In the case of Poland, the percentage of people affected by energy poverty in 2023 was 4.7 percent. Among the total inhabitants and 9.8 percent In a group of people with income below 60 percent. median. A result of 4.7 percent It places Poland relatively favorably against the background of other countries covered by the study, as illustrated by the following map based on Eurostat data.

Energy poverty still affects a significant part of society

– However, we must remember that energy poverty is also measured in a different way. An example is a 2M income indicator, showing the participation of people whose home energy expenses relative to income exceed three times the national median – says Prajsnar.

As he notes, in terms of the 2M income indicator, Poland is already worse against the background of other EU countries.

– This may be related to, for example, a large participation of households inhabiting large and energy -consuming houses – says the expert.

Although Poland records good results in basic statistics on energy poverty, more advanced indicators show that the problem still affects a significant part of society – especially in the context of the energy efficiency of buildings.