Well-being indicators are improving but the risk of poverty is above the EU average

Italy improves its positions in the various fields that form fair and sustainable well-being such as work, health, the environment etc.. but in terms of poverty risk it remains above the EU average and remains at a disadvantage in terms of disposable income and the difficulty of making ends meet.

The BES report drawn up by Istat this year sees an improvement in 54 of the 132 indicators that compose it, with 55 stable and 23 worsening. However, the risk of poverty places Italy in a worse situation than the European average (+2.3 percentage points). Compared to the EU, our country has strengths in health and safety with greater critical issues in the domains of education and training, work and life balance and innovation, research and creativity.

Over 5.4 million people in absolute poverty in 2025: the condition of large families and those with at least one minor child is confirmed as more difficult.

In 2025, families in absolute poverty in Italy are 8% of the total resident families, involving 9.3% of residents. The incidence of individual absolute poverty remains highest in the South at 11.5%, it was 12.5% ​​in 2024. The North follows with 8.5% (it was 8.8% in 2024), and the Center confirms the lower values ​​with 7.4% (it was 7.6% in 2024). The risk of poverty places Italy in a worse situation than the European average (+2.3 percentage points).