The average annual income of Italian households reached €39,501 in 2024, marking an increase compared with the previous year in both nominal and real terms. The figures, released by Istat, suggest an improving trend, but the broader picture remains more complex. Over the longer term, average household income is still below its 2007 level, highlighting how fragile Italy’s recovery has been.

Alongside the rise in income, one structural problem remains firmly in place: in-work poverty. In 2025, 10.2% of employed people aged 18 to 64 were still considered at risk of working poverty, a figure broadly unchanged from the year before. The data show that low pay is only part of the issue. Family structure, the number of earners in a household, and the presence of children all play a major role in determining whether employment is enough to avoid poverty.

The risk is especially high for people living alone, larger families, and households relying on a single income. Foreign workers are also disproportionately affected, with significantly higher rates of vulnerability than Italian nationals. The overall message is clear: in Italy, having a job is not always enough to ensure economic stability.