Istat report reveals mixed wellbeing trends in Italy

The Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) has released the thirteenth edition of its Equitable and Sustainable Wellbeing (Bes) report, analyzing 132 indicators across 12 domains including health, education, work, and the environment. The report shows improvements in 54 indicators, while 55 remain stable and 23 have declined.

Despite progress in areas such as health, safety, and the environment, Italy faces significant challenges regarding income and poverty. The risk of poverty in Italy remains 2.3 percentage points higher than the European Union average. In 2025, over 5.4 million people were recorded in absolute poverty, affecting 9.3% of the population.

Regional disparities persist, with the Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy) experiencing the highest incidence of absolute poverty at 11.5%. The North follows at 8.5%, while the Central region reports the lowest rate at 7.4%. The report also highlights specific vulnerabilities for large families and households with at least one minor child.