INDEC: poverty fell to 31.6% and extreme poverty to 6.9% in the first half of 2025

The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reported that poverty in Argentina reached 31.6% of the population during the first semester of 2025, while extreme poverty stood at 6.9%.

These figures represent a significant decrease compared to the levels recorded in the second semester of 2024, when poverty had climbed to 38.1% and extreme poverty to 8.2%.

The agency specified that 24.1% of households were below the poverty line (PL), which represents 2,456,090 households including 9,451,018 people. Within this group, 5.6% of households were below the extreme poverty line (EPL), which is equivalent to 565,821 households and 2,051,984 people.

The year-on-year comparison shows a decline in poverty of 4.5 percentage points among households and 6.5 points among individuals. In the case of extreme poverty, the reduction was 0.8 points among households and 1.3 points among individuals. INDEC highlighted that "a decrease in poverty and extreme poverty was observed in all regions", reflecting a homogeneous trend across the national territory.

By region, the highest poverty rates were recorded in the Northeast (39.0%) and in Cuyo (33.8%), while the lowest were observed in Patagonia (27.0%) and the Pampeana region (30.5%). In urban areas with more than 500,000 inhabitants poverty dropped by 6 percentage points and in smaller areas the decrease was 8.8 points.

Regarding age distribution, 45.4% of children aged 0 to 14 live in poor households. In the groups aged 15 to 29 and 30 to 64, poverty levels stood at 37.0% and 27.7% respectively. Among those over 65 years old, 10.8% are below the poverty line.

The report also indicated that the poverty gap, understood as the distance between the incomes of poor households and the Total Basic Basket (TBB), remained at 37%. "The average total family income of poor households was $671,492, while the average TBB reached $1,065,691", the agency specified.

INDEC explained that family incomes increased on average by 26.3% in the semester, surpassing the rise in basic baskets, which was 13.2% for the Basic Food Basket (BFB) and 12.3% for the TBB. "Incomes during the period studied increased at a higher rate compared to both the TBB and the BFB. Thus, both rates, poverty and extreme poverty, show a decrease in the current semester compared to the previous one", the report indicated.

The evolution of these indicators shows a change in trend after years of sustained growth in poverty.

The decline is linked to macroeconomic stabilization and to the relative improvement of incomes compared to the cost of living, in a context where economic policy aims to reduce inflation and correct fiscal imbalances.