This footage was filmed and produced 18 October 2023.

The number of people living in poverty in Italy rose in 2023 to its highest level in almost a decade, data showed on Monday, despite an economic rebound since coronavirus-linked restrictions were eased.

Those living in "absolute poverty" - unable to purchase essential goods and services - increased to 5.75 million, or 9.8% of the population, the national statistics office, ISTAT, reported. This figure is slightly higher than the 9.7% recorded in 2022 and the highest since the current data series began to be compiled in 2014.

The percentage of people in absolute poverty stood at 9.1% in 2020 and 9% in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, when the impact of the recession on families was partly offset by numerous support measures from the Government.

With the exception of a drop in 2019, poverty has risen steadily from 6.9% in 2014, when the ISTAT data series began.

Last year, Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government began phasing out a "citizens' income" poverty alleviation subsidy introduced in 2019, ignoring warnings from some economists and the Bank of Italy about the impact on the poor.