ISTAT said Thursday that the number of
people in absolute poverty in Italy reached the highest level in
15 years in 2020, according to preliminary data.
The national statistics agency said the incidence of families
in absolute poverty was up from 6.4% in 2019 to 7.7% in 2020,
which means over two million households were in absolute
poverty, up 335,000 . It said the incidence for individuals rose
from 7.7% to 9.4%, meaning 5.6 million people are in absolute
poverty, up by over a million in a year. The rise registered in
the year of the COVID-19 pandemic means the reduction in poverty
levels achieved in 2019 has been reversed.
ISTAT also said Thursday that the monthly spending of the
average Italian household dropped to 2,328 euros last year,
down by 9.1% with respect to 2019 and the same level as the year
2000.
The national statistics agency said only food expenditure and
spending for the house remained stable last year.
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