Poverty and living standards in Sicily, Italy: official figures
Disposable household income was 17,300 PPS per person in 2024; 19th highest of 21 regions in Italy.
How many people in Sicily are at risk of poverty?
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 44.0% in 2025, against 22.6% for Italy; 2nd highest of 21 regions in Italy.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Sicily?
Income inequality in Sicily, measured as the S80/S20 ratio, was 5.7 in 2024 against 5.1 nationally: 2nd most unequal of 21 regions and autonomous provinces, down from 7.3 in 2019.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyHow many families in Sicily struggle to make ends meet?
In 2025, 15.0% of residents of Sicily were in families struggling badly to make ends meet, against 7.5% across Italy (2nd highest of 19 units with data), up from 13.1% in 2020.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyHow expensive is housing in Sicily?
6.2% of people in Sicily spent more than 40% of their disposable income on housing in 2025 (Italy 5.0%), down from 12.5% in 2020.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyHow many people in Sicily live in poor housing?
5.8% of people in Sicily lived in severely deprived housing (overcrowded and with problems such as damp, no bath or poor light) in 2024 (Italy 5.6%), up from 5.1% in 2019.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyWhat is the burglary rate in Sicily?
Sicily had 3.5 burglaries per 1,000 families in 2025, against 7.7 nationally: 4th lowest of 21 regions and autonomous provinces, down from 4.1 in 2021.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyHow common are robberies in Sicily?
Robbery rates in Sicily stood at 0.4 per 1,000 people in 2025 compared with 1.0 across Italy (5th lowest of 21 regions and autonomous provinces), unchanged from 2021.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyIs pickpocketing common in Sicily?
Pickpocketing in Sicily ran at 0.9 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2025 (Italy 4.7), unchanged from 2021.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyIs Sicily safe at night?
In 2025, 56.2% of residents of Sicily said they felt very or quite safe out alone at night in their neighbourhood, against 55.9% nationally: 7th least safe of 21 regions and autonomous provinces, down from 58.5% in 2020.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyWhat is the murder rate in Sicily?
Sicily recorded 0.58 intentional homicides per 100,000 residents in 2023, against a national rate of 0.58 per 100,000.
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Sicily?
The at-risk-of-poverty rate was 38.4% in 2025, measured against 60% of median income in Italy, compared with 18.6% nationally; the highest of 21 regions in Italy. In 2015 it was 42.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Sicily cannot afford basic necessities?
9.4% of people suffered severe material and social deprivation in 2025, meaning they could not afford at least 7 of 13 basic items such as heating, a week away or replacing worn-out furniture, compared with 5.2% nationally; 3rd highest of 21 regions in Italy.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in Sicily have nobody in work?
17.1% of people under 65 lived in households where adults worked less than a fifth of their potential in 2025, compared with 8.2% nationally; 2nd highest of 21 regions in Italy. In 2015 it was 27.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average income in Sicily?
Disposable household income averaged €16,800 per person in 2024, compared with €22,000 nationally; 3rd lowest of 21 regions in Italy. In 2014 it was €12,300.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Sicily use the internet?
83.9% of people used the internet at least once a week in 2025, compared with 89.1% nationally; 4th lowest of 21 regions in Italy. In 2015 it was 53.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 83% of households had broadband in 2021. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Sicily compares with other regions
Income inequality (S80/S20 ratio) (2024)
Sicily ranks 2 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Income inequality (S80/S20 ratio) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calabria | 5.9 |
| 2 | Sicily | 5.7 |
| 3 | Campania | 5.5 |
| 4 | Sardinia | 5.5 |
| 5 | Lazio | 5.2 |
| 6 | Liguria | 5.1 |
| 7 | Apulia | 5.0 |
People in households with great difficulty making ends meet (%) (2025)
Sicily ranks 2 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with great difficulty making ends meet (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calabria | 17.2% |
| 2 | Sicily | 15.0% |
| 3 | Campania | 14.0% |
| 4 | Apulia | 10.1% |
| 5 | Abruzzo | 8.4% |
| 6 | Sardinia | 6.2% |
| 7 | Piedmont | 5.9% |
Home burglaries per 1,000 households (2025)
Sicily ranks 18 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Home burglaries per 1,000 households |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Liguria | 5.3 |
| 16 | Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste | 5.1 |
| 17 | Molise | 4.1 |
| 18 | Sicily | 3.5 |
| 19 | Basilicata | 2.9 |
| 20 | Sardinia | 2.7 |
| 21 | Calabria | 2.2 |
Robberies per 1,000 residents (2025)
Sicily ranks 17 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Robberies per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste | 0.4 |
| 15 | Marche | 0.4 |
| 16 | Abruzzo | 0.4 |
| 17 | Sicily | 0.4 |
| 18 | Sardinia | 0.4 |
| 19 | Molise | 0.3 |
| 20 | Basilicata | 0.2 |
People aged 14+ who feel safe walking alone after dark (%) (2025)
Sicily ranks 15 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 14+ who feel safe walking alone after dark (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Abruzzo | 59.9% |
| 13 | Tuscany | 57.6% |
| 14 | Umbria | 57.5% |
| 15 | Sicily | 56.2% |
| 16 | Apulia | 55.5% |
| 17 | Veneto | 55.3% |
| 18 | Emilia-Romagna | 55.3% |
Regional and local social assistance spending per resident (euro, 2023) (2023)
Sicily ranks 6 of 21, highest first. Consolidated social assistance spending by the regional administration and local authorities in 2023, divided by population on 1 January 2026.
| Rank | Region | Regional and local social assistance spending per resident (euro, 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste | €646 |
| 4 | Sardinia | €426 |
| 5 | Friuli-Venezia Giulia | €408 |
| 6 | Sicily | €189 |
| 7 | Lazio | €188 |
| 8 | Liguria | €183 |
| 9 | Marche | €176 |
At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) (2025)
Sicily ranks 1 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sicily | 38.4% |
| 2 | Campania | 35.6% |
| 3 | Calabria | 32.8% |
| 4 | Apulia | 27.6% |
| 5 | Sardinia | 26.1% |
| 6 | Basilicata | 21.9% |
| 7 | Abruzzo | 20.0% |
Severe material and social deprivation rate (2025)
Sicily ranks 3 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Severe material and social deprivation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calabria | 14.8% |
| 2 | Campania | 10.0% |
| 3 | Sicily | 9.4% |
| 4 | Apulia | 9.3% |
| 5 | Tuscany | 6.4% |
| 6 | Abruzzo | 5.3% |
| 7 | Basilicata | 4.5% |
People in households with very low work intensity (2025)
Sicily ranks 2 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with very low work intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campania | 20.3% |
| 2 | Sicily | 17.1% |
| 3 | Calabria | 16.4% |
| 4 | Sardinia | 14.3% |
| 5 | Molise | 13.5% |
| 6 | Apulia | 13.0% |
| 7 | Liguria | 7.1% |
Disposable household income per person (euros) (2024)
Sicily ranks 19 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable household income per person (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Sardinia | €18,900 |
| 16 | Molise | €18,300 |
| 17 | Basilicata | €17,300 |
| 18 | Apulia | €17,200 |
| 19 | Sicily | €16,800 |
| 20 | Calabria | €16,400 |
| 21 | Campania | €16,200 |
People who use the internet regularly (2025)
Sicily ranks 18 of 21, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who use the internet regularly |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Abruzzo | 88.9% |
| 16 | Molise | 86.1% |
| 17 | Apulia | 84.5% |
| 18 | Sicily | 83.9% |
| 19 | Campania | 83.1% |
| 20 | Basilicata | 83.0% |
| 21 | Calabria | 79.7% |
More on Sicily: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Italy
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Disposable household income per person (PPS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd6019768e9f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_peps11n: At risk of poverty or social exclusion, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 94dcf245d20e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_broad_h: Households with broadband, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b02c9a1ef222…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_iuse_i: Individuals regularly using the internet by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fb4ff8800853…)
- Dipartimento per le politiche di coesione e per il Sud, Presidency of the Council of Ministers: Conti Pubblici Territoriali, Open CPT: consolidated public administration spending by region, sector and level of government, 2000-2023 (SP_PA_SE_TS_CETOT), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e43827f5e93d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_li41: At-risk-of-poverty rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27849ad61b9a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_mdsd18: Severe material and social deprivation rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62e6e6fba571…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_lvhl21n: People living in households with very low work intensity by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8b5e993ae943…)
- Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics): BES (equitable and sustainable well-being) indicators by region, interim update April 2026: indicatori_regione_sesso.xlsx, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9003db40394e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Income of households by NUTS 2 region (euros per inhabitant), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7441dafca51…)
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