Istat disseminates the relative and absolute poverty estimations for the households residing in Italy, based on 2012 Households Budget Survey data. Being sample estimations, they are affected by sampling error: small differences can be not statistically significant.
In 2012 the relative poverty incidence was equal to 12.7%, whereas the absolute poverty to 6.8%. Taking into account the sampling error, the phenomenon increased in comparison with 2011 in all the geographical areas.
The relative poverty threshold, for a two-member household, was equal to 990.88 Euros (about 20 euros less compared with 2011 threshold).
Absolute poverty increased among households with three (from 4.7% to 6.6%), four (from 5.2% to 8.3%) and five or more members (from 12.3% to 17.2%); among couples with three or more children- the incidence from 10.4% increased to 16.2% – especially if the children are minors (from 10.9% to 17.1%). The absolute poverty increased among single parents (from 5.8% to 9.1%) and households with aggregate members (from 10.4% to 13.3%).
The condition worsened, in terms of absolute poverty, for households having as reference person a worker (from 7.5% to 9.4%), a self employed worker (from 4.2% to 6%), a manager or an employee (from 1.3% to 2.6%) and for households with employed and retired members (from 3.6% to 5.3%).