Economic crisis and poverty in Argentina: a current x-ray of a structural problem

Poverty in Argentina is once again at the center of public debate. The most recent reports show that more than 40% of the population lives in poverty, while different organizations warn that the economic recovery has not yet managed to translate into real improvements for the most vulnerable sectors.

This panorama, far from being homogeneous, reveals a complex web of inequalities, divergent indicators and a hard core of exclusion that has persisted for more than two decades.

📉 A country where income is not enough

According to the National Council for the Coordination of Social Policies, 61% of the population had difficulty covering the total basic basket or faces problems of access to housing, health, education or social security. This alternative indicator is not limited to income: it measures rights, quality of life and access to essential services.

At the same time, the Argentine Catholic University (UCA) registered a drop in indigence and a partial recovery in income, although it warns that there is a structural core of poverty that has not changed for 20 years.

📊 Recent developments in indicators

The data show a slight improvement from the 2024 peak, but they are still alarming:

Indicator	2024 (peak)	2025 (latest data)	2025 1º(Indec)
Income poverty	45,6%	36,6%	31,6%
Coast (ODSA-UCA)	49,9%	36,3%	--
Homelessness	12,3%	6,8%	6,9%

 

Despite the decline, specialists agree: economic stabilization has not yet translated into tangible improvements in daily well-being.

🧩 An uneven map: who is most affected

The reports indicate that:

• The crisis hits the lower-income sectors hardest.
• The social gap continues to widen.
• Access to basic rights continues to be a structural debt.
• The economic recovery benefits the formal sectors first, leaving informal workers and vulnerable households behind.

In addition, researchers from the Gino Germani Institute warn that 72% of workers receive salaries below what is necessary to cover the basic basket, which deepens job insecurity and economic insecurity.

🧠 Beyond the numbers: the human dimension

Poverty is not just an economic indicator. It impacts on:

• Physical and mental health
• Access to education
• Quality of housing
• Future expectations
• Job placement
• Social participation

The reports agree that multidimensional poverty – the one that measures rights and not just income – is the one that grows the most and the one that costs the most to reverse.

🔍 What do these data show about the country?

The different studies consulted reveal a clear pattern:

• Poverty in Argentina is not a circumstantial phenomenon, but a structural one.
• Recent improvements are insufficient to reverse decades of inequality.
• The economic recovery does not reach the entire population in a uniform way.
• Sustained policies that address income, rights, and quality of life in  a comprehensive way are required.

📝 Conclusion: a challenge that demands more than statistics

The numbers show a slight improvement, but the daily reality of millions of Argentines continues to be marked by uncertainty, lack of opportunities and vulnerability. Poverty in Argentina is a complex phenomenon that requires multidisciplinary approaches, long-term policies and a sustained commitment from the State, the private sector and civil society.

Meanwhile, the latest reports serve as a stark reminder: the economic recovery won't be complete until it reaches everyone.

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