Recent data from European statistics have shown that living standards vary greatly among European Union countries. According to the Eurostat survey on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), which is collected at the national level by the Štatistický úrad SR (Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic), Slovakia ranks among the countries with the worst indicators for meeting the basic needs of its population.
Where People Cut Back the Most on Food
One of the study’s key indicators is whether people can afford a full meal with meat, poultry, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent at least every other day. For many families, this is a sign of serious financial hardship.
In Slovakia, 14.2% of residents cannot afford meat or fish dishes. The EU-wide average is 8.5%. Based on this criterion, the country ranks among the four worst in the EU, ahead of only Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. Neighboring countries fare much better: in the Czech Republic, this figure stands at 5.7 percent; in Austria, 3.3 percent; and in Poland, just 3.0 percent.
The Paradox of Prices and Financial Burden
Interestingly, the problem is not related to shortages or excessively high food prices. An analysis by the Slovak Ministry of Finance shows that food prices in the country in 2025 remained at about 80% of the EU average, and meat, in particular, used to be even cheaper than the EU average (around 70%).
The biggest blow to household budgets comes from regular fixed payments. High energy and housing costs place an excessive burden on family budgets, leaving less money for quality food. The most vulnerable group is single seniors aged 65 and older: as many as 27.5% of them cannot afford a piece of meat or fish every other day (the EU average is 12.2%, which is the third-highest relative figure in the European Union). At the same time, young single people under 65 feel somewhat more secure than the European average (11.7% versus 13.8%).
Internet Access and Leisure Time
In addition to food, Eurostat analyzed access to home internet and regular leisure activities.
When it comes to the internet, Slovakia shows a trend opposite to the pan-European one. While internet connectivity rates are improving across the EU, in Slovakia the share of citizens who cannot afford internet access for personal use at home has risen to 2.7% (the EU average is 2%). By this measure, the country ranks fifth from the bottom in the European Union, while in the Czech Republic or Poland, this figure remains below one percent.
The situation is quite different when it comes to regular recreational activities. In 2025, only 5.7% of Slovakia’s residents could not afford to engage in regular recreational activities. This is significantly better than the European average of 12.1%. As a result, Slovakia ranks fourth best in the EU, trailing only the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, and Croatia.
For more details, see the full version of the analysis in the original article on Aktuality.sk.
