Poverty is worsening in France, according to the annual barometer of Secours populaire

More and more French people are experiencing financial difficulties, whether it is to find accommodation, get medical care, pay for their energy bills, play sports or even go on holiday.

Precariousness will increase in France in 2024, warns Secours populaire in its annual barometer on poverty and precariousness, published on Thursday, September 12. According to this study, a French person considers himself poor with less than 1,396 euros per month (+19 euros compared to 2023), almost as much as the minimum wage, to within 2 euros (1,398 euros net per month).

This subjective poverty threshold varies depending on the location and the composition of the family. In Île-de-France, residents consider themselves poor if they earn less than 1,431 euros per month. French people who live with at least one child aged 18 months believe that they need to earn more than 1,447 euros per month to live decently. These amounts are far from the official poverty threshold set at 1,158 euros per month, according to INSEE.

In this Secours populaire barometer, 62% of French people also say they know or have known a situation of poverty, i.e. 4 points more than last year. And nearly 8 out of 10 French people (79%) say they are pessimistic about the risk that their children will one day experience a precarious situation.

The proportion of French people experiencing difficulties in going on holiday and paying their energy bills has reached new records this year and concerns almost one in two people (57% in rural areas). And the difficulties are getting worse when it comes to paying for housing, paying for health insurance, and playing sports or leisure activities.

As a result, the French continue to deprive themselves. 43% of French people say they hardly heat their homes when it’s cold, “sometimes or regularly”. 30% of French people have difficulty obtaining healthy food that allows them to eat three meals a day, and almost one in three parents deprive themselves of food in order to feed their children.

Furthermore, 45% of respondents say they have difficulty meeting child-related expenses (supplies, clothing, canteen, etc.). Paying certain medical expenses is problematic for 43% of respondents, as is paying transportation costs (39%). And nearly one in three French people have difficulty paying their internet and telephone subscriptions (40% in rural areas).

Another problem highlighted in this barometer: accessibility to certain essential services. In terms of health, one in three French people have difficulty accessing a health service, but it is even more difficult in rural areas for two out of five inhabitants.

However, solidarity remains there. 66% of French people want to get involved in helping people in poverty. At Secours populaire, 90,000 volunteers are mobilized every day.

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** Methodology **

To produce this barometer, Secours populaire interviewed 996 people aged 16 and over by telephone from May 24 to 26, 2024.