Poverty in Italy

Absolute poverty

In 2015, the incidence of absolute poverty was 6.1% in terms of residing households and 7.6% in terms of individuals. In 2014 the former was equal to 5.7%, the latter was 6.8%. The incidence of absolute poverty at the household level was broadly stable compared to 2014, despite its increase among households with all non-national members (from 23.4% in 2014 to 28.3%), especially in the North area (from 24.0% in 2014 to 32.1%), and among households with 4 members (from 6.7% to 9.5%), in particular couples with 2 children (from 5.9% in 2014 to 8.6%).

These were the main reasons why in 2015 the incidence of poverty increased among individuals (from 6.8% in 2014 to 7.6%).The share of poor households among those with all non-national members compared to households with national members only, was almost seven times higher (28.3% vs. 4.4%).

Households residing in metropolitan area centers showed worsening signals (from 5.3% in 2014 to 7.2%) as well as households with reference person aged between 45 and 54 years (from 6.0% in 2014 to 7.5%).

Relative poverty

In 2015, the proportion of poor households in relative terms remained stable (10.4%, it was 10.3% in 2014), whereas the relative poverty intensity increased (from 22.1% to 23.1%), especially in the South and Islands area (from 22.8 % to 25.2%).

From 2014 to 2015 the relative poverty incidence decreased among households with elderly, passing from 9.6% to 8.5%. These were households with reference person aged 65 and over (from 9.3% to 8.0%), retired from work (from 9.2% to 7.7%), mainly couples without children (from 9.1% to 7.4%). In the South and Islands area the poverty incidence decreased among households with reference person aged 65 or more (from 21.5% to 18.2%), retired from work (from 21.9% to 18.3%), with at least a upper secondary school certificate (from 13.2% to 11.2%).

Compared to 2014, in 2015 the relative poverty incidence increased among households with four members (from 14.9% to 16.6%) or five members and more (from 28.0% to 31.1%).