Extreme poverty jumps in Italy on back of COVID woes

FILE PHOTO: People queue for free food as Italians struggle to cope in a tough economic climate amid the coronavirus pandemic in Milan, Italy, December 14, 2020. REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - The number of Italians living in absolute poverty rose sharply in 2020 to its highest level for at least 15 years as the coronavirus crisis brought economic pain to much of the country, data showed on Wednesday.

Last year, about 5.6 million people, or 9.4% of the population, lived in absolute poverty, defined as those unable to buy goods and services essential to achieve "a minimally acceptable standard of living", national statistics bureau ISTAT said.