More Italians at risk of poverty, social exclusion in 2024: ISTAT

The share of Italians at risk of poverty or social exclusion rose slightly in 2024 to 23.1 percent, up from 22.8 percent the previous year, the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) reported on Wednesday, reported Xinhua.

According to ISTAT's annual report, Income and Living Conditions of Households, about 11 million people -- out of a national population of nearly 60 million -- were considered at risk of poverty in 2024. This classification includes those living in households where net earnings were less than 60 percent of the median income from the previous year.

When the definition is broadened to include social exclusion -- covering households with "low work intensity," or those that worked less than 20 percent of their potential -- the number of affected individuals rises to 13.5 million.

ISTAT also reported that the average net household income (excluding imputed rent) for 2023 stood at 37,511 euros (40,452 U.S. dollars), or roughly 3,125 euros per month. Although this reflects a nominal increase of 4.2 percent from the previous year, real income fell by 1.6 percent due to inflation, marking a second consecutive year of decline. Inflation in 2023 was 5.9 percent, outpacing income growth.

The decline in real income was most significant in northeastern Italy, down 4.6 percent, and in central Italy, down 2.7 percent. Southern Italy saw a more modest drop of 0.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the rate of severe material and social deprivation held steady at 4.6 percent in 2024, nearly unchanged from 4.7 percent in 2023. This condition, which affects around 2.7 million people, describes households that cannot afford basic necessities such as rent, sufficient meals, or unexpected expenses.