In 2016 it is estimated that there are 1 million and 619 thousand resident families in conditions of absolute poverty, in which 4 million and 742 thousand individuals live. Compared to 2015, there is substantial stability in absolute poverty in terms of both families and individuals. The incidence of absolute poverty rises to 26,8% from 18,3% in 2015 among families with 3 or more minor children, involving 2016 thousand 137 families and 771 thousand 814 individuals in 402; it also increased among minors, from 10,9% to 12,5% (1 million 292 thousand).
The professional position of the reference person greatly affects the spread of absolute poverty. This is what Istat points out in the report "Poverty in Italy" for 2016. For families whose reference person is a worker, the incidence of absolute poverty is double (12,6%) compared to that of families overall (6,3%), confirming what was recorded in previous years. On the other hand, it remains rather low among households with managers, middle managers and employees (1,5%) and retired from work (3,7%). As in previous years, the incidence of absolute poverty decreases as the reference person's educational qualification increases: 8,2% if he has at most an elementary school leaving certificate; 4,0% if you have at least a high school diploma.
Relative poverty in 2016 was stable compared to the previous year: it concerned 10,6% of resident families (10,4% in 2015), for a total of 2 million 734 thousand, and 8 million 465 thousand individuals, 14,0% of residents (13,7% the previous year). This is what Istat reveals in the report "Poverty in Italy", released today. Similarly to what was recorded for absolute poverty, in 2016 relative poverty (calculated on the basis of household expenditure detected by the annual consumption survey) was more common among families with 4 members (17,1%) or 5 members and more (30,9%). Relative poverty affects young families the most: it reaches 14,6% if the reference person is under 35, while it drops to 7,9% in the case of people over 18,7. The incidence of relative poverty remains high for blue-collar workers and assimilated (31,0%) and for families with a reference person looking for employment (XNUMX%).
