Pienituloisimmat

Pienituloisimmat is a Finnish term referring to the people with the lowest incomes in a population. In statistical and policy contexts, it denotes individuals or households whose disposable income places them at the bottom of the income distribution. Common definitions treat pienituloisimmat as those with an equivalised disposable income below a chosen threshold, such as 60 percent of the median income or as part of the bottom quintile; thresholds can vary by dataset and year.

Disposible income is income after taxes and transfers, and equivalised income adjusts for household size and composition using a standard scale (for example, an OECD-modified scale). These measures allow comparison across households of different sizes and circumstances and are used to identify those at risk of poverty or material hardship.

The term is used to analyze poverty, living standards, and inequality, and to inform social policy. It helps target programs such as social assistance, housing benefits, unemployment support, and child benefits. In Finland, analyses of pienituloisimmat are produced by Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) and are utilized in national poverty assessments as well as in comparative European and OECD studies.

Limitations include variations in the exact threshold used, differences in data sources and time periods, and the influence of living costs and welfare systems. Consequently, the concept provides a useful but imperfect snapshot of the lowest-income groups, illustrating trends in income distribution rather than a comprehensive measure of deprivation.