Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Italy: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Italy is placed 63rd of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 34.34 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.66 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
63rd
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Italy on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Italy’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
34.34
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Italy: 34.34. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Southern Europe
- 24.68 Slovenia
- Land neighbours
- Austria 31.2 · Switzerland 33.46 · France 31.81 · Slovenia 24.68
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Italy’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.66
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Italy: 0.66. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Southern Europe
- 0 Slovenia
- Land neighbours
- Austria 0.39 · Switzerland 0.03 · France 0.05 · Slovenia 0
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
8.4
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
Italy: 8.4. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Southern Europe
- 2.3 Slovenia
- Land neighbours
- Austria 2.9 · Switzerland 1.1 · France 3.5 · Slovenia 2.3
02Over time
Which way Italy is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
ItalyWorld median
Italy fell from 34.7 in 2002 to 34.34 in 2023; the world median went from 37.14 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Italy World median 2023 34.34 33.72 2022 33.65 33.91 2021 34.84 34.04 2020 35.24 34.18 2019 34.58 33.51 2018 35.22 35.25 2017 35.92 34.86 2016 35.24 34.47 2015 35.39 35.52 2014 34.65 34.79 2013 34.91 36.16 2012 35.15 35.40 2011 35.05 33.96 2010 34.72 33.71 2009 33.83 34.91 2008 33.77 34.60 2007 32.89 34.26 2006 33.69 35.63 2005 33.83 36.28 2004 34.29 34.29 2003 34.93 35.46 2002 34.70 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
ItalyWorld median
Italy fell from 1.24 in 2002 to 0.66 in 2023; the world median went from 3.01 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year Italy World median 2023 0.66 0.345 2022 0.52 0.420 2021 0.62 0.335 2020 0.64 0.280 2019 0.82 0.380 2018 1.05 0.460 2017 1.10 0.300 2016 1.24 0.440 2015 1.42 0.500 2014 0.93 0.635 2013 1.08 0.515 2012 0.86 0.640 2011 0.88 0.430 2010 0.93 0.530 2009 0.65 0.600 2008 0.51 0.350 2007 0.51 0.360 2006 0.50 0.465 2005 0.51 1.250 2004 0.50 0.790 2003 0.56 1.650 2002 1.24 3.010 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
ItalyWorld median
Italy fell from 11.1 in 2017 to 8.4 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year Italy World median 2025 8.4 26.40 2024 8.5 27.10 2023 8.6 27.15 2022 7.1 27.90 2021 8.5 29.65 2020 9.5 31.80 2019 9.2 29.05 2018 10.5 29.85 2017 11.1 32.40
03In context
Italy beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
Italy and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Slovenia | 2nd | 24.68 | 0 | 2.3 |
 Switzerland | =19th | 33.46 | 0.03 | 1.1 |
 France | 23rd | 31.81 | 0.05 | 3.5 |
 Austria | 33rd | 31.2 | 0.39 | 2.9 |
| Italy | 63rd | 34.34 | 0.66 | 8.4 |
 San Marino | not placed | — | — | — |
 Vatican City | not placed | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Italy in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Italy is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median18
Statistics on which Italy does better than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.91.720.9No real change since 2021
Italy: 1.7 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 132nd of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.895.63217.89▲ Improved since 2014
Italy: 5.632 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 69th of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.20.25▲ Improved since 2014
Italy: 0.2 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.0580.413▲ Improved since 2013
Italy: 0.058 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 157th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80032,18512,800No real change since 2017
Italy: 32,185 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 173 · derived.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.8170.609No real change since 2013
Italy: 0.817 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 35th of 169 · derived.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7648.7922.76▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 48.79 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 15th of 60 · derived.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0510.3417.05No real change since 2013
Italy: 10.34 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 124th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.821.927.82No real change since 2013
Italy: 1.92 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.10.922.1No real change since 2014
Italy: 0.92 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.3240.337▼ Worsened since 2014
Italy: 0.324 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.
Position 45th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7541.371.754No real change since 2013
Italy: 1.37 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 36th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2522.2824.252No earlier reading
Italy: 2.282 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 92nd of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8412.3761.841▲ Improved since 2015
Italy: 2.376 · world median 1.841 · Annualized growth in real income or consumption per person of the bottom 40% (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -4.185 to 14.51; higher is better.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1825.826.18▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 25.8 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.341.041.34▲ Improved since 2013
Italy: 1.04 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.216.2317.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 16.23 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3332.833▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 32.8 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 41st of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which Italy does worse than the middle country measured.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4460.446No earlier reading
Italy: 0.446 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 76th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3321.3671.332▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 1.367 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 27th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.126.617.12▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 6.61 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 37th of 60 · derived.
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.550.185No real change since 2013
Italy: 0.55 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.930.930.93▲ Improved since 2013
Italy: 0.93 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 30th of 58 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.889.2916.88No earlier reading
Italy: 9.291 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.554.55Moved since 2017
Italy: 4.55 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.820.121.8No earlier reading
Italy: 20.1 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
No current reading for Italy
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Working Poverty Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Italy’s 16 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Italy’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Gender & Equality3rd of 1834/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing6th of 2002/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation20th of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture26th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 32nd of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions34th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technology37th of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade34th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge46th of 1983/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties50th of 1984/4 keys
- Energyjoint 47th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security55th of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience70th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality63rd of 1593/3 keys
- Work & Labour86th of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 115th of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Italy can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Belarus1st3/3 keysHighest in Southern Europe
Slovenia2nd3/3 keysThis page
Italy63rd3/3 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Italy on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Italy rank on poverty & inequality?
Italy is placed 63rd of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Italy?
34.34 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Italy?
0.66 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Italy compare with France on poverty & inequality?
France is placed 23rd of 159, and Italy 63rd. Gini Index: France 31.81, Italy 34.34; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: France 0.05, Italy 0.66; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: France 3.5, Italy 8.4.
How have Italy’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index fell from 34.7 in 2002 to 34.34 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 1.24 in 2002 to 0.66 in 2023; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet fell from 11.1 in 2017 to 8.4 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Italy?
No current reading is published for Italy on Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Working Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 6 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Italy’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Italy (banner) — Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Italy: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/italy/poverty