Italy regional poverty and cost pressures

A July 2026 study of Friuli‑Venezia Giulia showed that 23.6% of families (47,114 households) had an ISEE below €10,000 in 2025, with the highest concentration in Trieste (30.4%) and the lowest in Pordenone (18.9%). The number of families filing a DSU rose 9.6% year‑on‑year to 199,490, indicating growing economic strain despite pandemic‑era support measures. Social benefits reached only about 6,000 households, providing an average €600 monthly.

Two days later, a broader report highlighted that rising living costs were deepening hardship for young adults and low‑income families across Italy. In Abruzzo, the share of 18‑34‑year‑olds still living with parents rose to 68%, linked to higher rents (student rooms up from €200 to €300), transport fares, coffee prices (+33%) and fuel (+18%). The same Friuli‑Venezia Giulia data were reiterated, underscoring a shift toward a larger share of low‑income households as eligibility for benefits expanded. Together, the snapshots trace a widening pattern of poverty and cost‑of‑living pressures affecting both regional families and younger populations in Italy.

New data from Istat released in late July 2026 further details economic vulnerabilities among caregivers. Approximately 12 million people in Italy provide unpaid assistance to others, with 4.4 million being cohabiting family caregivers. Families with at least one person with a disability face a 28.4% risk of poverty, exceeding the national average of 23.4%. Additionally, 28.7% of these families experience material deprivation, struggling with essential costs like utilities and rent. These challenges are intensified during summer months due to reduced local services and increased energy costs from extreme heat.