In the Czech Republic the Living Conditions Survey has been taking place since 2005 so in the near future it is to be launched for the fourth time. The households in the survey are visited repeatedly (once a year) for a period of four years. Annually, a quarter of the sample is dropped and newly selected again (4-year rotational panel). Probability sampling is utilized, the sample size being more than 10 thousand households. In 2006 the response rate was 75.8 per cent (the percentage of the successfully interviewed). Information on both individuals and households is collected. The survey is a sample survey (as opposed to census survey), which means that the users should constantly bear in mind that the results are representative estimates biased by statistical error.

The newest results show, besides other things, that among 10 percent of the highest income households those households prevail (57.6 per cent) that have as their heads employees with completed secondary- or tertiary-level education. On the other hand, households with heads of low education attainment (32.3 per cent) and households with unemployed heads (27.6 per cent) find themselves among the poorest 10 percent of households most frequently.

The at-risk-of-poverty rate is the percentage of people whose disposable income did not reach the poverty threshold. The poverty threshold is defined as 60 per cent of the median income identified on all the individuals. The persons below the threshold cannot automatically be labeled as poor because we do not have the complete picture of them, lacking such information as savings, property. Low income is the first sign that a household can be in danger of poverty. Among economically inactive people the highest at-risk-of-poverty rate is with the unemployed (44 per cent). Single parent families are the households most threatened by poverty.

Old-age and survivors' pensions and social transfers contribute substantially to lowering the threat of becoming poor. Whilst with persons aged 16-64 the at-risk-of-poverty rate is as low as 9 per cent, it would rise to 21 per cent if calculated without social transfers (but including pensions). It further soars to 30 per cent if pensions are left out.

The at-risk-of-poverty rate pertaining to all the population in the Czech Republic is 10 per cent. This rate is the second lowest in EU-25 (Sweden being the country with the lowest rate). The average at-risk-of-poverty rate in EU-25 is 16 per cent (2004).

Detailed information can be found in Household Income And Living Conditions In The CR, 2006 publication, which consists of various breakdowns (social groups, income distribution, number of children, persons economically active, household categories, size of municipality etc.) and includes selected Laeken (poverty) indicators. When required, it is possible to produce other breakdowns that are not included in this publication.