(MENAFN) France reports fewer people living in poverty than the European Union average, yet it has a higher proportion of modest-income households, according to a new study published on Wednesday by the French Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees).

The research, which utilized data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), indicated that in 2021, 14.3% of France’s population was living in poverty, compared with the EU-27 average of 16.9%.

"With 14.3% of people living in poverty, France is in an intermediate position and below the European average," the study noted.

In contrast, the country had a larger share of residents classified as modest, defined as those earning between 60% and 75% of the median income, placing France above the EU average of 11.7%.

The report highlighted significant differences across the European Union.

The share of individuals living below the poverty line varied from 8.6% in Czechia to 23.4% in Latvia.

Southern and parts of Eastern Europe experienced the highest poverty rates, surpassing 20% in Spain, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Estonia.

Conversely, Central European nations such as Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Czechia recorded some of the lowest poverty levels.

In Northwestern Europe, poverty levels ranged from 10.8% in Finland to 18% in Luxembourg, positioning France in a mid-range category.

MENAFN24092025000045017167ID1110104608