Almost 2 million Poles at risk of extreme poverty. There are great difficulties in measuring the scale of this phenomenon
In 2024, in Poland, the emergency of extreme poverty was reduced by 1.4 pp. – from 6.6 percent A year earlier to 5.2 percent However, this is a smaller decline than the increase recorded between 2022 and 2023 – according to the data of the Central Statistical Office. In 2024, however, the range of risk of relative poverty (to 13.3 percent) increased and reduced statutory poverty – to 2.6 percent. Millions of Poles still do not fulfill their needs at a basic level, which can cause political and social consequences. Experts call for the introduction of objective measures of poverty, which is to help fight it.
– The Central Statistical Office showed that Extreme poverty in Poland, compared to 2023, fell from 6.6 percent. up to 5.2. This is a significant drop, but nevertheless Almost 2 million Poles are still threatened with extreme poverty, i.e. they do not meet the needs at a minimum level. This is dangerous, because it raises both political and social policy, i.e. the possibility of helping the poor – says Newseria agency dr hab. Sławomir Kalinowski, professor of the Institute of Rural and Agriculture of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The basis for determining the border of hazarding of extreme poverty is the minimum of existence estimated by the Institute of Labor and Social Affairs (IPISS). The minimum category of existence determines a very low level of satisfaction. Consumption below this level hinders survival and poses a threat to human psychophysical development.
As the expert emphasizes, the recorded decrease in the extreme poverty rate was caused primarily to improve the situation on the labor market and the lower level of unemployment persistent at 5 percent.
– If we look at the research of the economic activity of the population, it is even over 2 percent. This is a scale that has never been achieved before in economic history, and I think that this is the main reason for reducing extreme poverty – explains prof. Sławomir Kalinowski.
According to the CSO data published at the end of June, statutory poverty in 2024 amounted to 2.6 percent, which is synonymous with a decrease in 1.5 pp. Compared to 2023 and by 4.1 pp. relative to the state of 2021. The level of the limit of threat of statutory poverty corresponds to the values of the amounts, which, in accordance with applicable regulations, entitle to apply for a cash benefit from social assistance. However, the Central Statistical Office emphasizes that the threat limits of this category of poverty have not been raised since 2022.
– This is very important, because statutory poverty, which is at a level slightly higher than 2 percent, is not a measure that will show how many poor people in Poland are actually – says expert Irwir. – The authorizing threshold to receive a social assistance benefit has been at the same level for three years, i.e. about PLN 776 per lonely person and just over 600 in the case of a family of four.
In his opinion, if the amount that would entitle to benefit from social assistance were to be raised and similar as in the case of extreme poverty, it should exceed PLN 900 for a one -man household and slightly less for four -person farms per person.
– If statutory poverty is lower than extreme poverty, then there is a paradox that people who do not meet their needs at a minimum level, at the same time have no chance to receive a social benefit from the Social Welfare Center. This is dangerous, because some people do not fulfill their needs even at a minimum level. So if extreme poverty is at a level above 5 percent, and statutory poverty does not exceed 3 percent, then we see how a significant group of people, probably about 700,000, may not fulfill their needs even at a minimum level – indicates Sławomir Kalinowski.
The third limit given in poverty statistics is the limit of the threat of relative poverty, at the level of 50% of the amount, which is issued by households in Poland on average in a month. This enables the separation of farms and people whose consumption level is significantly below the average level. In 2024, the range of risk of relative poverty was 13.3 percent, which was an increase of about 1 pp. compared to 2023.
Poverty or social exclusion is the result of a few problems, including low income, low level of education, disability, long or serious illness, lack of work, limited activity of social assistance beneficiaries, dysfunctional families, low life aspirations, adverse phenomena from the past, long -term fixed patterns of poverty in family
As indicated by research conducted in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship for the purposes of the publication of “Poverty of the poor”, co -authorship of prof. Sławomir Kalinowski, financial difficulties are just one of the few aspects of poverty. Many people from this group struggle with health problems, often chronic or untreated, experience a sense of social isolation, lack of support from family or friends. Some of them inherit poverty, and for some it is a way of life, because they do not want to go beyond a pattern of poverty, which is a safe alternative compared to difficult attempts to change living conditions.
During the 5th Congress of Polish Statistics, the expert presented the paper “Objective measures of poverty: challenges and possibilities in practice in the context of social policy”, whose co -author is dr hab. Aleksandra Łuczak, prof. UPP. The authors analyze the differences between existing poverty measures, which are mainly based on the income level or material deprivation indicators, and indicate the consequences resulting from these differences, such as differences in the assessment of the scale of the problem. Experts point to the need to combine objective and subjective measures to supplement numbers with real needs. Creating local barometers that will enable effective preventive actions could also help. In their opinion, it is also necessary to monitor new forms of poverty (digital, energy or transport).
The barometer of poverty and social exclusion developed by the authors helps to identify areas that require special attention and track progress in achieving the goals of social policy. As they explain, the barometer is a tool that is to show in advance changes in the wealth of society, especially its impoverishment. It is to enable periodic and repetitive analysis of areas in terms of poverty and social exclusion.
In addition to improving the measuring of the scale of the phenomenon, according to experts, in counteracting it is necessary close cooperation between various entities involved in counteracting poverty, such as social assistance centers, non -governmental organizations, local governments and the government. Thirdly, investment in human capital is of key importance by providing access to education, vocational training as well as health and psychological care.
– On the one hand, primarily education – raising the competences of people, but also all elements related to not making social assistance dependent. Help must be activating, help in getting out of poverty, and not just to be a social benefit that allows you to meet needs at a given moment. You have to think perspective and long -term – explains prof. Sławomir Kalinowski.
The key step to effectively counteract poverty and exclusion is to increase financial outlays on the social assistance system, which will allow for more effective support for beneficiaries. It is also important to simplify the procedures to make the system more friendly and available to those in need, as well as develop activation services that can help people find employment and improve their professional competences.
As the Irwir PAN expert emphasizes, there are three axes of poverty and social exclusion in Poland.
– One axis is a distance from large cities and these are rural and peripheral areas, where there are less chances of achieving needs. The second axis is former former sub -stateer areas. Over 30 years after the liquidation of state farms, we are still dealing with a situation that in these rural areas people do not meet their needs at a sufficient level. And the third axis, which runs on the diagonal line from Szczecin to Rzeszów – some people located on the right of this line have a lesser chance of completing their needs – says prof. Sławomir Kalinowski.
