Over a quarter of Italians are at risk of poverty and in 2010 one family out of two lived on 2 euros a month, a sum that drops to 1.665 euros in the Sude and in the islands. This was revealed by the Istat report on income and living conditions.
In 2011, the risk of poverty affected 28,4% of people residing in Italy, a percentage higher than the European average (24,2%). Compared to 2010 - reports the statistical institute - there is an increase in individuals living in families who declare that they cannot afford a week's vacation away from home during the year (from 39,8% to 46,6%), which have not been able to adequately heat their home (from 11,2% to 17,9%), who are unable to bear unexpected expenses of 800 euros (from 33,3% to 38,5%) or who, if they wanted to, they could not afford an adequate protein meal every two days (6,7% to 12,3%).
The median income of families living in the South is equal to 73% of that of families residing in the North, a value lower than that recorded in 2009 (76%). This means that in the South and Islands household incomes are 27% lower than the national average. In the Centre, the share stands at 94% (it was 96%), signaling an increase in the territorial gap to the detriment of the Centre-South.
