Argentina Poverty Falls to 28.2%, Lowest Since 2018, Indec Says

Overview

• Indec, which published its survey Tuesday, reported poverty at 28.2% or about 8.5 million people, with extreme poverty at 6.3% or roughly 1.9 million.
• The rate fell from 31.6% in the first half of 2025 and is the lowest since 2018, marking a notable improvement within a year.
• Indec measures poverty by comparing household income to the cost of a basic basket of goods and services that covers food, transport, clothing, health, and education.
• Economists credit the decline to sharply lower monthly inflation since late 2023 and the government’s decision to keep social aid in place.
• The recovery remains uneven as energy, mining, and finance grow while manufacturing and construction contract, unemployment hit 7.5% in late 2025, and price pressures may return with fuel costs rising, even as Milei’s approval slips to 36% and economists see 3.4% growth in 2026.