Italy counts 5.4 million people living in absolute poverty

Residents in absolute poverty, 2025

9.3 %

Italy's statistics agency, Istat, says 9.3 per cent of residents, 5.4 million people in more than 2.1 million families, lived in absolute poverty in 2025, down from 9.8 per cent in 2024.

Absolute poverty by age

1. 1 Under 18: 12.5%
2. 2 18 to 34: 12.1%
3. 3 35 to 64: 8.9%
4. 4 Over 65: 6.1%

Poverty falls with age: 12.5 per cent of minors, more than 1.1 million children, live in absolute poverty, against 6.1 per cent of people over 65.

The rate is 5.9 per cent among families made up only of Italians and 29.4 per cent among families made up only of foreigners.

Nearly 8.7 million people, 14.8 per cent of residents, live in relative poverty, a rate almost unchanged from 2024.