"In 2021, absolute poverty confirms its all- time highs reached in 2020, the year in which the Covid-19 pandemic began. Families in absolute poverty amount to 1 million 960 thousand, equal to 5,571,000 people (9.4% of the resident population ). The incidence is confirmed higher in the South (10% from 9.4% in 2020) while it drops significantly in the North, particularly in the North-West (6.7% from 7.9%) ". This is what the XXI Caritas Report on Poverty and Social Exclusion affirms entitled " The weak link ", released today on the International Day for the Fight against Poverty.

The text of the Report examines the official statistics on poverty and data from Caritas sources, coming from almost 2,800 Caritas Listening Centers throughout the country.

"With reference to age - we read -, the levels of poverty continue to be inversely proportional to age : the percentage of absolute poor is in fact 14.2% among minors (almost 1.4 million children and poor youth ), 11.4% among 18-34 year-olds, 11.1% for the 35-64 year-old class and 5.3% for those over 65 (value below the national average).

Between 2020 and 2021, the incidence of poverty grew more than average for families with at least 4 people, families with a reference person aged between 35 and 55, children aged 4-6, families of foreigners and those with at least one earned income. It has grown less than the average for small families, with elderly, made up of only Italians.

THE FACE OF POVERTY IN THE ISLANDS - In 2021, 19,414 people welcomed and accompanied in the listening centers / online services on the islands, of these 53.2% women and 46.8% men. Italians represent 74.2% . The correlation between poverty and low level of education is confirmed: among the people who have asked for help in the islands, 84.7% have at most a lower secondary school license.

CITIZENSHIP INCOME - The data on Citizenship Income , which according to Caritas has so far been received by "4.7 million people, also emerges from the report, but "It would therefore be appropriate - specifies the study - to ensure that all those in the worst conditions are reached, starting from the absolute poor. Alongside the economic component of aid, adequate processes of social inclusion must be guaranteed".