Official Stats Show Italians Now Much Poorer Than Filipinos

The risk of falling into poverty in Italy is rising and some 20.1% of the population was below the poverty line in 2021, according to the latest figures from Eurostat, the Italian news agency ANSA reported recently.

Photo Insert: These figures affirm that 11.84 million people are officially poor in Italy, making Filipinos look better as the poverty level has been reduced to less than 20%.

Poverty is defined as having an income 60% lower than the average national disposable income, Eurostat said. Under that definition, the number of poor Italians rose a tad worse from 20% in 2020 to 20.1% last year, the regional statistics office disclosed.

These figures affirm that 11.84 million people are officially poor in Italy, making Filipinos look better as the poverty level has been reduced to less than 20%. In the Philippines, anyone who spends P18 for each meal is not officially poor.

Moreover, the Italians were candid enough to admit that if those statistically at risk of social exclusion were added, the number would balloon to 14.83 million, or 25.2%.

The percentage of children at risk of poverty was 26.7% in 2021, up from 23.8% in 2020 and the highest since 1995, Eurostat added. It means that last year, 667,000 children lived in households with incomes 60% below the average, an increase from 660,000 in 2020.

If those at risk of social exclusion are included, the percentage rises to 31.6% from only 27% in 2020.

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