Poverty and living standards in Charente (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France): official figures
On poverty, Charente ranked 46th lowest of 97 departements in 2023: 15.4% of residents lived on less than 60% of the national median living standard, against 15.9% in metropolitan France.
How many people in Charente depend on benefits?
Social benefits made up 5.3% of household disposable income in Charente in 2023 (metropolitan France: 4.9%): family benefits 1.6%, housing benefits 1.0% and minimum social benefits such as the RSA 2.7%.
Source: INSEE · saved copyWhat is the burglary rate in Charente?
Police and gendarmerie recorded 1,120 burglaries of homes in Charente in 2025, 5.5 per 1,000 dwellings (47th highest of 101 departements; France 5.6), 7% more than in 2016.
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copyIs Charente dangerous?
There were 958 recorded victims of physical violence outside the family in Charente in 2025, or 2.72 per 1,000 residents, 43rd lowest of 101 departements (France: 3.16).
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copyHow much does Charente spend on RSA?
RSA minimum income payments cost the council €68.03 million in 2025, €189 per resident (19th highest of 94 councils), against €64.21 million in 2019.
Source: Observatoire des finances et de la gestion publique locales (OFGL), from DGFiP accounts · saved copyMore figures
- The richest 20% of people in Charente had 3.8 times the combined living standard of the poorest 20% in 2023 (metropolitan France: 4.6). Source: INSEE · saved copy
- Minimum social benefits (RSA, minimum old-age pension, disabled adult allowance) accounted for 2.7% of income in Charente in 2023, 29th highest of 97 departements. Source: INSEE · saved copy
- Domestic (intrafamily) physical violence recorded in Charente reached 1,472 victims in 2025, 4.17 per 1,000 residents, up from 597 in 2016 (France: 3.76 per 1,000). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
- 876 victims of sexual violence were recorded in Charente in 2025, a rate of 2.48 per 1,000 residents (France: 1.93). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
- In 2025 208 people were implicated in drug trafficking in Charente (0.59 per 1,000 residents) and 2,593 people reported card or payment fraud (7.4 per 1,000). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
- 6 homicide victims were recorded in Charente in 2025, along with 8 victims of attempted homicide. Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
How Charente compares with other departments in France
Poverty rate (60% of median living standard, %) (2023)
Charente ranks 52 of 97, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Poverty rate (60% of median living standard, %) |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Gers | 15.6% |
| 50 | Ardèche | 15.6% |
| 51 | Vienne | 15.5% |
| 52 | Charente | 15.4% |
| 53 | Essonne | 15.4% |
| 54 | Lozère | 15.3% |
| 55 | Meuse | 15.0% |
Minimum social benefits as a share of income (%) (2023)
Charente ranks 29 of 97, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Minimum social benefits as a share of income (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Tarn-et-Garonne | 2.8% |
| 27 | Vaucluse | 2.8% |
| 28 | Yonne | 2.7% |
| 29 | Charente | 2.7% |
| 30 | Tarn | 2.7% |
| 31 | Bouches-du-Rhône | 2.7% |
| 32 | Meuse | 2.6% |
Home burglaries per 1,000 dwellings (2025)
Charente ranks 47 of 101, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Home burglaries per 1,000 dwellings |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Deux-Sèvres | 5.6 |
| 45 | Haute-Vienne | 5.6 |
| 46 | Haute-Savoie | 5.6 |
| 47 | Charente | 5.5 |
| 48 | Loiret | 5.5 |
| 49 | Eure | 5.5 |
| 50 | Lot | 5.5 |
Victims of non-domestic physical violence per 1,000 residents (2025)
Charente ranks 59 of 101, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Victims of non-domestic physical violence per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Haute-Savoie | 2.76 |
| 57 | Calvados | 2.74 |
| 58 | Moselle | 2.74 |
| 59 | Charente | 2.72 |
| 60 | Indre-et-Loire | 2.69 |
| 61 | Allier | 2.69 |
| 62 | Charente-Maritime | 2.69 |
Victims of sexual violence per 1,000 residents (2025)
Charente ranks 6 of 101, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Victims of sexual violence per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Orne | 2.54 |
| 4 | Hautes-Alpes | 2.54 |
| 5 | Réunion | 2.51 |
| 6 | Charente | 2.48 |
| 7 | Somme | 2.44 |
| 8 | Meuse | 2.44 |
| 9 | French Guiana | 2.43 |
RSA minimum income payments per resident (€) (2025)
Charente ranks 19 of 94, highest first.
| Rank | Area | RSA minimum income payments per resident (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Meurthe-et-Moselle | €193 |
| 17 | Val-d'Oise | €190 |
| 18 | Nièvre | €189 |
| 19 | Charente | €189 |
| 20 | Haute-Vienne | €185 |
| 21 | Somme | €183 |
| 22 | Vienne | €182 |
More on Charente: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Nouvelle-Aquitaine · France
Sources
- Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI): Base statistique départementale de la délinquance enregistrée par la police et la gendarmerie nationales, 2016-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 05fd70cbfe72…)
- INSEE: Indicateurs sur les revenus et la pauvreté au niveau local en 2023 (Filosofi 2023, base FILOSOFI_CC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f3822a78e3f5…)
- Observatoire des finances et de la gestion publique locales (OFGL), from DGFiP accounts: Comptes des départements 2012-2025 (budgets principaux, 2019-2025 extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3c1b2d8de45d…)
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