ROME, March 25 -- One out of 10 Italians was living in absolute poverty last year, according to preliminary government data released on Monday.

Italy's National Statistics Institute, ISTAT, said that 5.75 million Italians were living in absolute poverty in 2023, up from 5.67 million in 2022 and 5.32 million in 2021. Last year, this group amounted to 9.8 percent of the country's population.

ISTAT defines a person living in absolute poverty as someone who lacks the resources to meet their basic needs such as food and clean drinking water, clothing, health care and shelter.

ISTAT's data shows the highest levels of absolute poverty were reported in the largely agricultural southern regions, while the industrialized north showed the lowest levels. However, it noted a faster growth in poverty levels in the northern regions compared to other parts of the country.

The young were the hardest hit demographic group: 14 percent of Italians aged under 18 were living in absolute poverty, against 11.9 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 34. In comparison, just 6.2 percent of Italians aged over 65 were living in the lowest economic category.

ISTAT said the main factor behind the growing percentage of Italian residents living in absolute poverty was inflation, which has outstripped economic growth during the last two years.

Last year, prices hiked by an average 5.9 percent while the economy grew at 0.9 percent. Similarly, in 2022, the inflation rate was 8.1 percent while the economy grew by just 3.7 percent.

  - Xinhua