The Observatory of Inequality has highlighted a troubling trend in France: the number of people living below the poverty line has grown significantly over the past 20 years, Azernews reports.

According to the report, 5.1 million individuals, or 8.1% of the French population, now live in poverty. This marks an increase from 6.6% in 2002, translating to 1.4 million more people falling into poverty. The poverty threshold is defined as a monthly income of 1,014 euros for a single person, 1,500 euros for a couple without children, and 2,500 euros for a family with two children over 14.

The report also reveals that poverty disproportionately affects certain groups. Young people aged 18–29 are among the most impacted, with 10-11.4% living below the poverty line. Among the unemployed, about one in four individuals live in poverty, while this figure drops to 2.9% for salaried workers.

This growing disparity underscores the ongoing challenges of economic inequality in France, raising concerns ab