Poverty in Italy

Poverty in Italy deals with the level of poverty and homelessness in the Western European country of Italy.

The poverty rate in Italy has increased since the 2008 financial crisis.^[1] In 2017, the number of people living in "absolute poverty" rose to 5.1 million, which was the highest in 12 years.^[2] According to a report in 2022 by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), over 5.6 million Italians, comprising about 1 in 12 of the Italian population, could not afford the cost of bare essentials.^[3] This was attributed mainly to inflation.^[4] 3 in 10 (1.6 million; 29%) of those classes as in 'extreme poverty' were foreigners, representing approximately one-third (32.4%) of all foreigners residing in the country.^[5] The 2022 report was off the back of a previous increase caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.^[6]

Furthermore, according to Eurostat, by 2023, 63% of Italian households will face difficulties making ends meet, causing Italy to be one of the European countries with the most widespread economic difficulties, surpassing France, Poland, Spain and Portugal. The European average is 45.5%.^[7]

The current Meloni government has previously cut anti-poverty subsidies introduced in 2019, causing protests on May Day.^[8]

^ Saraceno, Chiara; Benassi, David; Morlicchio, Enrica (2020-09-02). Poverty in Italy: Features and Drivers in a European Perspective. Policy Press. pp. vii. ISBN 978-1-4473-5222-8.
^ Jones, Gavin (2018-06-26). "Poverty in Italy at worst for 12 years, new government vows action". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
^ Carbonaro, Giulia (2023-10-27). "Nearly 1 in 12 Italians live in 'absolute poverty', report finds". euronews. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
^ "Increasing absolute poverty due to inflation" (PDF) (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-12-04.
^ "Italy: 2022 IDOS statistical dossier on immigration | European Website on Integration". ec.europa.eu. 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
^ "Extreme poverty jumps in Italy on back of COVID woes". Reuters. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
^ "Oltre il 63% delle famiglie italiane fatica ad arrivare a fine mese" [Over 63% of Italian families struggle to make ends meet. Eurostat, the European average is 45.5%] (in Italian). October 21, 2023.
^ "Italy cuts anti-poverty subsidies as critics slam 'provocation'". France 24. 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-12-04.

[1] Saraceno, Chiara; Benassi, David; Morlicchio, Enrica (2020-09-02). Poverty in Italy: Features and Drivers in a European Perspective. Policy Press. pp. vii. ISBN 978-1-4473-5222-8.

[2] Jones, Gavin (2018-06-26). "Poverty in Italy at worst for 12 years, new government vows action". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-04.

[3] Carbonaro, Giulia (2023-10-27). "Nearly 1 in 12 Italians live in 'absolute poverty', report finds". euronews. Retrieved 2023-12-04.

[4] "Increasing absolute poverty due to inflation" (PDF) (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-12-04.

[5] "Italy: 2022 IDOS statistical dossier on immigration | European Website on Integration". ec.europa.eu. 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-12-04.

[6] "Extreme poverty jumps in Italy on back of COVID woes". Reuters. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2023-12-04.

[7] "Oltre il 63% delle famiglie italiane fatica ad arrivare a fine mese" [Over 63% of Italian families struggle to make ends meet. Eurostat, the European average is 45.5%] (in Italian). October 21, 2023.

[8] "Italy cuts anti-poverty subsidies as critics slam 'provocation'". France 24. 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-12-04.

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