In Austria, 336,000 people are living in absolute poverty, meaning they cannot afford basic daily needs like heating, a yearly vacation, or unexpected expenses, reported by “Heute”. This was revealed in the latest report by Statistik Austria, the country’s official statistics agency.
This figure makes up 3.7% of the population living in private households. But the concern goes deeper. Another 1.5 million people—about 17% of Austrians—are considered at risk of poverty or social exclusion. These people are living just above the poverty line and could easily fall below it due to rising living costs.
The report shows that education plays a major role in avoiding poverty. People with only a basic school education are much more likely to struggle financially. One in ten of them cannot afford essential expenses. Without further education, many are unable to meet the minimum living standards set by the European Union.
The EU measures absolute poverty by checking whether someone can afford 7 out of 13 basic needs and activities. These include being able to handle sudden costs, keep a home warm, or buy new clothes.
In 2024, the poverty risk threshold was set at an annual income below €19,926—or €1,661 per month. Around 1.29 million people earned less than that and were officially marked as at risk of poverty.
Politicians are raising alarms. FPÖ deputy Dagmar Belakowitsch called the numbers “shocking” and blamed the government—especially the ÖVP—for failing to help the vulnerable. She said rising costs for housing and energy are hurting families, seniors, and single parents the most.
While the government spends heavily on other projects, she warned, too many Austrians are left behind with only “empty promises” to rely on.
