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Those living in "absolute poverty" rose to 4.6 million last
year, or 7.6 percent of the population, up from 6.8 percent in
2014 and the highest since current records began in 2005,
national statistics bureau ISTAT reported.
Renzi, who came to power in February 2014 promising to kickstart
a chronically stagnant economy, has seen his popularity ratings
fall steeply over the last year as economic and job growth has
remained listless.
ISTAT's annual poverty report jars with his constantly upbeat
message made up of tweets and hashtags like "Italy is back" and
"We're turning Italy around."
The report is particularly sensitive because a common criticism
of the 41-year-old prime minister is that he has taken his
traditionally centre-left Democratic Party too far to the right
and lost touch with the working class and poor.
ISTAT defines absolute poverty as the condition of those who are
unable to buy goods and services "essential to avoid grave forms
of social exclusion".
In the underdeveloped south of Italy, 10 percent of people were
living in absolute poverty, up from 9 percent in 2014, ISTAT
said. That compared with 6.7 percent in the north, up from 5.7
percent.
The situation was deteriorating for workers as well as the
unemployed, with 6.1 percent of families living in poverty
despite having at least one member in work. The figure rose to
11.7 percent if the breadwinner was a factory worker.
Renzi faces a crucial referendum in the autumn on a plan to
reduce the powers of the Senate and streamline parliamentary
procedures, and has repeatedly said he will resign if he loses.
ISTAT said Italians living in "relative poverty," or those whose
disposable income is less than around half the national average,
also rose in 2015 to 8.3 million people, or 13.7 percent of the
population. That was up from 12.9 percent in 2014 and the
highest since current records began in 1997.
(Editing by Catherine Evans)
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