The number of people living in poverty in Italy rose in 2023 to its highest level in the last ten years. This was reported by the national statistical office ISTAT, whose data is provided by Finanza Italia, writes European Truth.
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Growth of poverty
Number of people living in absolute poverty, that is, those unable to buy basic goods and services, increased to 5.75 million, or 9.8% of the population.
This is slightly more than 9.7% in 2022. and is the highest since current data collection began in 2014.
The Italian economy has rebounded from the COVID recession in 2020-2021, stronger than in neighboring countries such as Germany and France, but The ISTAT report showed that the recovery has done little to help the poorest.
The percentage of people living in absolute poverty was 9.1% in 2020 and 9% in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, when the impact of the recession for families was partially offset by numerous government support measures.
ISTAT defines absolute poverty as a state in which it is impossible to purchase goods and services necessary for an acceptable standard of living.
With the exception of a fall in 2019 The poverty rate in Italy has been steadily increasing since 2014, from 6.9% in 2014, when ISTAT data collection began.