In 2021, the average annual net family income is 33,798 euros (2,816 euros per month), but since the distribution of income is asymmetrical, half of the families do not exceed 26,979 euros (2,248 euros per month). The distribution of income at the regional level shows substantial differences: Calabria and Sicily are the regions where inequality, measured in terms of income concentration, it is higher, while the greatest uniformity in the distribution of income is recorded in the Marche and in the Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste. Inequality in income distribution in Italy is higher than the EU average. This is what emerges from the ‘Noi Italia’ report by Istat.
In 2022, the average monthly expenditure of families residing in Italy is equal in current values to 2,625 euros, a marked increase (+8.7%) compared to 2021, but the growth in real terms is almost zero, due to the effect of inflation (+8.7% the annual variation of ‘Harmonized Consumer Price Index for the countries of the European Union – Hpca). Families spend on average 482 euros per month on food products and non-alcoholic drinks, while spending on non-food goods and services is 2,143 euros per month.
The expenditure item that weighs the most is that for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, ordinary and extraordinary maintenance for a total of 1,010 euros per month (38.5% of the total average family expenditure). In the North-West, on average, 755 euros more are spent than in the South. The regions with the highest average monthly expenditure are Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (3,466 euros) and Lombardy (3,051 euros), while Puglia and Calabria are those with the lowest expenditure (respectively, 1,983 and 1,839 euros per month).
Over 2.18 million families are in conditions of absolute poverty
In 2022, they are in absolute poverty over 2.18 million families (8.3% of the total resident families, from 7.7% in 2021), for a total of over 5.6 million individuals (9.7%, up from 9.1% the previous year). The worsening of absolute poverty is attributable, to a large extent, to the strong acceleration of inflation. This is what emerges from the ‘Noi Italia’ report by Istat.
There are 1 million 269 thousand minors affected by absolute poverty, belonging to 720 thousand families. There are over 1 million 700 thousand foreigners in absolute poverty, with an incidence of absolute poverty among foreigners equal to 34.0%, a value over four and a half times higher than that of Italians. The situation is particularly critical for those who live in rent: over 983 thousand families in absolute poverty live in rent (45% of poor families).
The incidence of absolute poverty among renting families is 21.2%, while among those who live in their own homes it is 4.8%. Both values are growing compared to 2021. In 2022, the incidence of families in absolute poverty is confirmed to be highest in the South (10.7%), with a peak in the South (11.2%) followed by the North-East (7.9%) and North West (7.2%); the Center confirms the lowest incidence values (6.4%).
In 2022, over 2.6 million families are in relative poverty (10.1% of the total resident families, down from 10.9% in 2021), for a total of 8.2 million individuals (14.0%, down from 14.8% the previous year ). In 2022, the incidence of relative family poverty decreases in the South (19.3% compared to 21.2% in 2021); in particular, in the South it goes from 23.1% to 20.6%, while the remaining areas show stability.
In 2022, in the South, 9.3% of the resident population (over 1.8 million individuals) lives in conditions of serious material and social deprivation, while in the North-East 1.6% (over 182 thousand individuals).
