Arrange the steps of constructing an at-risk-of-poverty rate, in order.

1. Collect disposable income for each household over the reference year
2. Equivalise each household’s income for its size and composition
3. Find the median of the equivalised distribution
4. Set the threshold at 60 per cent of that median
5. Count the individuals in households falling below the threshold

The final step counts individuals while every earlier step works with households, which is the seam where most misreadings enter. A large household below the line contributes more people to the rate than a small one, so the individual-level rate and the household-level one differ, and reports rarely say which they have used.