People living in lone parent households reported the highest deprivation, having to go without basic items like heating or new clothes.
The EU-SILC 2003 survey showed that the deprivation levels in this group were the highest for each of eight basic deprivation indicators.
These indicators were:
Almost 33 per cent of the lone parent group indicated that the household could not afford to buy new, not second-hand, clothes.
Some 31 per cent reported that they experienced debt problems arising from their ordinary living expenses.
"An inability to provide adequate heating was also a significant issue for this group, with a little over 24 per cent indicating that they had to go without heating at some stage in the 12 months prior to the survey due to a lack of money," the survey said.
A total of 18.4 per cent reported that they were unable to afford two pairs of strong shoes and 23.9 per cent said they were unable to afford a roast once a week.
Affording a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day was out of reach for 21.9 per cent and 13.5 per cent said they were unable to afford a warm, waterproof coat.
Over 77 per cent of adults and children living in lone parent households were at risk of deprivation.
Households with just one adult had a consistent poverty rate of 12 per cent.
The children in these households also showed a high level of consistent poverty.
Children under 15 years in the lone parent group had a consistently poor rate of 32.6 per cent.
Among those living alone, which would include the elderly, 11.4 per cent said they had been without heating at some stage during the previous year.