France below EU average on poverty but above on low-income households: Study

ISTANBUL

France records fewer poor people than the EU average but a higher share of modest-income households, according to a new study released on Wednesday by the French Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees).

The analysis, based on the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), found that in 2021, 14.3% of the French population lived in poverty, compared to the EU-27 average of 16.9%.

"With 14.3% of people living in poverty, France is in an intermediate position and below the European average," it said.

At the same time, France had a greater proportion of people classified as modest, those living on between 60% and 75% of the median income, putting the country above the bloc’s average of 11.7%.

The report revealed sharp contrasts within the EU.

The proportion of people below the poverty threshold ranged from 8.6% in Czechia to 23.4% in Latvia.

Southern and parts of Eastern Europe recorded the highest poverty levels, exceeding 20% in Spain, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia and Estonia. By contrast, Central European countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Czechia posted some of the lowest rates.

In Northwestern Europe, poverty ranged between 10.8% in Finland and 18% in Luxembourg, with France situated mid-range.

Certain groups were shown to be more exposed to poverty risks across the EU. Single parents, large families, the unemployed, youth and non-EU migrants were identified as particularly vulnerable.

Single-parent households recorded a poverty rate of 31%, while 26% of large families also lived below the threshold, compared with only 10–12% of couples. Among those aged 65 and older, nearly 28% of single seniors were poor, against 11% of couples without children.

Employment status was also decisive: 47% of unemployed adults and 35% of inactive individuals fell under the poverty line, compared with only 9% of employed people. Migrants from outside the EU were found to be among the most disadvantaged, with 44% categorized as poor and 19% as modest.

The study stressed that poverty affects different social groups depending on the country. In Western and Northern Europe, including France, the poor are more often students, young people, and single-parent or large families, while modest-income groups are largely retirees and seniors.

In Southern Europe and in countries such as Poland and Romania, poverty and modest living standards are more closely tied to working-age adults and couples with children, whether employed, unemployed or inactive.