Poverty has no limit in Argentina

[Kimm]

To give you an idea, according to specialists, the minimum wage today has less purchasing power than it did in 2001, and we all know what happened back then. In that time, the economy collapsed, people lost their savings, there was a major social and economic crisis, and poverty dramatically increased. Today, although the circumstances are different, we’re living through a kind of 'silent crisis,' where people, even with jobs, are still struggling to make ends meet. The difference now is that we’re not seeing massive protests or looting, but the sense of uncertainty is very similar. People aren’t spending on luxuries; they’re being forced to juggle just to cover the basics like food, rent, and utilities. In a way, Argentinians have gotten used to surviving on the bare minimum, but the pressure keeps building up, and sadly, the purchasing power of many families is still lower than it was two decades ago. The economic outlook still leaves many unanswered questions, and if urgent measures aren’t taken, history could repeat itself.

Golpe al bolsillo: el salario mínimo tiene menos poder de compra que en 2001, según un informe privado

El desplome se acentuó en diciembre de 2023 y la caída del poder adquisitivo de las remuneraciones mínimas ya se encuentra por debajo de los niveles previos a la crisis de la convertibilidad

www.infobae.com

 

[Jenn]

To give you an idea, according to specialists, the minimum wage today has less purchasing power than it did in 2001, and we all know what happened back then. In that time, the economy collapsed, people lost their savings, there was a major social and economic crisis, and poverty dramatically increased. Today, although the circumstances are different, we’re living through a kind of 'silent crisis,' where people, even with jobs, are still struggling to make ends meet. The difference now is that we’re not seeing massive protests or looting, but the sense of uncertainty is very similar. People aren’t spending on luxuries; they’re being forced to juggle just to cover the basics like food, rent, and utilities. In a way, Argentinians have gotten used to surviving on the bare minimum, but the pressure keeps building up, and sadly, the purchasing power of many families is still lower than it was two decades ago. The economic outlook still leaves many unanswered questions, and if urgent measures aren’t taken, history could repeat itself.

Golpe al bolsillo: el salario mínimo tiene menos poder de compra que en 2001, según un informe privado

El desplome se acentuó en diciembre de 2023 y la caída del poder adquisitivo de las remuneraciones mínimas ya se encuentra por debajo de los niveles previos a la crisis de la convertibilidad

www.infobae.com

But people can't be that bad or poor in Argentina. I just read an article that said something like 10% of Argentina's entire population went away to Brazil in January on vacation! That doesn't sound like people that are struggling.

 

[earlyretirement]

Poverty rates are continuing to go down in Argentina.

Poverty in the City of Buenos Aires (CABA) experienced a significant decrease in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to data from the Buenos Aires City Institute of Statistics and Censuses.

During this period, poverty affected 24.2% of the population, which translates to 746,000 people, compared to 30.1% (928,000 people) in the same period in 2023.

Increase in the Universal Child Allowance (AUH): The AUH rose from ARS 20,661 in December 2023 to ARS 93,281 in December 2024, representing a 351.5% increase, significantly surpassing the 136.7% inflation rate for the previous year.

Expansion of the food card program: This program has also been crucial in reducing poverty, with indigence decreasing from 12.2% in 2023 to 6.5% in 2024.

Groups most affected by poverty:

South Zone of CABA: Poverty affects 28.1% of households in this area.

Households with children under 14: Poverty is 31.9% in these households, increasing with the number of children.

Children and adolescents: 37.9% of this group lives in households in poverty.

The reduction in poverty is attributed to social and economic policies that have improved the income of the most vulnerable households. However, poverty remains a significant challenge, especially in certain sectors of the population.

 

[mayer]

Yes, the numbers and stats show poverty is going down, but the real-life situation for a lot of people is totally different. Sometimes those figures don’t fully capture the daily struggles people face. If you just talk to regular folks who wake up early, take multiple buses to work, and still have trouble making ends meet, you’ll see that things aren’t as great as the charts suggest.

Sure, programs like AUH and the food card might be helping some, but the cost of living has gone up a lot, and sometimes those benefits don’t go far enough to cover basic needs. The stats can give us a general idea, but the reality for people on the ground is that there’s still a big gap between what the numbers say and what people are actually going through. So, even if the numbers go down, a lot of people are still struggling.

And I’m not saying all of this is Milei’s fault, of course. The previous administrations definitely played a big part in making this mess, especially for certain groups like retirees. But it just feels so cold to talk about numbers when the minimum pension here is 300,000 ARS. Can you believe that? Who could live on that salary?

 

[Hero]

Speaking of numbers and statistics, INDEC published today the poverty rate, which by the way, has decreased significantly, it went from 52.9% to 38.1%.. although for many it’s still a struggle, I believe we’re on the right track.

Significativa caída de la tasa de pobreza: pasó de 52,9% a 38,1%

El indicador del Indec mostró una baja pronunciada respecto del primer semestre del año pasado y también del 41,7% del fin de 2023. Además retrocedió la indigencia, que se redujo al 8,2% frente al 18,1% de la primera mitad de 2024

www.infobae.com

 

[Digital Nomad]

Terrific that is it falling! I think there will always be poverty in BA but good that statistics show it going down. Saw it in La Nacion too.

La pobreza bajó en el primer año de Milei: fue de 38,1% y hay 17,9 millones de pobres

El Indec publicó hoy el número del segundo semestre de 2024; en 2023, al finalizar el gobierno de Alberto Fernández y Cristina Kirchner y con una inflación récord, había cerrado en 41,7%; en el primer semestre había sido 52,9%

www.lanacion.com.ar

 

[Larry]

Do not read too much into these poverty numbers. There isn't anything to celebrate at all. Read some of the experts and what they are saying and nothing good. If you compare the third quarter between the past 2 years and it's the same. Everything is about the same as before Milei took over.

Read this. What will help is investments in SME's and these are going out of business!

‘Not much to celebrate’ despite fall in poverty, says expert

Leading poverty expert Agustín Salvia, of UCA’s prestigious social debt observatory, digs into the figures after INDEC reports dramatic fall in numbers of poor.

www.batimes.com.ar

 

[Spend Thrift]

Not sure I buy that things are better. I'm here in Seatle visiting family. Saw this in today's paper.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/argentina-reports-a-drop-in-poverty-under-president-milei-but-many-say-life-is-harder/

 

[old fart]

These official calculations only include the country's 31 most populated urban centers with 100,000 or more inhabitants, which represents 30 million people, out of a total Argentine population of about 47 million.

And it doesn’t consider the near-poor; the many who have dropped from the middle class and live just above the poverty line.

If both groups are combined, nearly 80 percent of the Argentine population is poor.

 

[Bingo]

These official calculations only include the country's 31 most populated urban centers with 100,000 or more inhabitants, which represents 30 million people, out of a total Argentine population of about 47 million.

And it doesn’t consider the near-poor; the many who have dropped from the middle class and live just above the poverty line.

If both groups are combined, nearly 80 percent of the Argentine population is poor.

It is wild in some small corner markets and stores. I saw at a chino people asking if they could buy 1 roll of toilet paper. Wild never saw this in any other country I visited.

 

[Colin]

I think the situation with poverty really is decreasing. Back before Milei started at the end of the month the grocery stores would be totally empty but now I see them busier even at the end of the month. Prices keep going up but at least things are a bit more stable up until now. I am not sure if that will change with blue rate going up.

 

[Larry]

I think the situation with poverty really is decreasing. Back before Milei started at the end of the month the grocery stores would be totally empty but now I see them busier even at the end of the month. Prices keep going up but at least things are a bit more stable up until now. I am not sure if that will change with blue rate going up.

Stable?? Everything is going up like crazy. Beef, eggs, flour, chicken, milk, and now even bread. No way the inflation of 2.5% a month like the government is saying is right!

 

[Bingo]

Stable?? Everything is going up like crazy. Beef, eggs, flour, chicken, milk, and now even bread. No way the inflation of 2.5% a month like the government is saying is right!

Hey why do so many poor have so many children in BA? I keep seeing all these poor begging for money and they have like 3 or 4 kids around them. Saw this article too. Do they get a bunch of handouts from the government for each kid?

https://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/ap-photos-a-family-in-argentina-scavenges-for-20256153.php

 

[David]

Hey why do so many poor have so many children in BA? I keep seeing all these poor begging for money and they have like 3 or 4 kids around them. Saw this article too. Do they get a bunch of handouts from the government for each kid?

https://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/ap-photos-a-family-in-argentina-scavenges-for-20256153.php

Yes these people get government assistance.

In Argentina, the Asignación Universal por Hijo (AUH), or Universal Child Allowance, provides financial assistance to eligible families for each child under 18 years old. There is also a lot of fraud with many people claiming their kids have a disability so they can get more.


These amounts they get are adjusted quarterly based on Argentina’s Mobility Law. Typically, 80% of the allowance is paid monthly, with the remaining 20% disbursed annually upon verification of the child’s health check-ups and school attendance.

Additionally, the Alimentar Allowance provides further support for food expenses. It always bothered me that so many that claim they don't have money keep having kids when they can't afford it.

 

[earlyretirement]

FYI the latest social class statistics.

The social pyramid in Argentina during the first quarter of 2025 reflects marked inequality and structural transformation affecting all social classes. Below is a detailed overview of each group:

Upper Class

The upper class, representing only 5% of the population, has managed to consolidate its economic position. To belong to this group, a household needs monthly income exceeding ARS 6 million pesos (exchange rate now on blue dollar is 1,330 pesos to $1 USD). This sector continues to plan and project for the future, benefiting from the country's economic growth, although this improvement does not translate into equitable progress for the rest of the population.

Upper Middle Class

The upper middle class, encompassing 17% of households, faces a delicate situation. Although their income (between ARS 3.2 and ARS 4.5 million per month) allows them to stay out of poverty, they do so with very tight margins. This group manages to "get by," but without savings or room for unexpected expenses, reflecting a significant loss in purchasing power over recent years.

Lower Middle Class

The lower middle class, which includes 26% of households, is in a critical situation. Their income (between ARS 1.85 and ARS 2.1 million per month) barely exceeds the poverty line. This social segment faces severe restrictions: "the month ends on the 20th," according to testimonies. The general perception is that having a job and education is no longer enough to sustain a lifestyle typical of the middle class.

Lower Class

The lower class constitutes the largest segment of Argentina's population, with 53% living either in poverty or close to it. Within this group:

The upper lower class has income between ARS 1.06 and ARS 1.75 million per month and is not officially considered poor, though they live in precarious conditions.

The remaining 26% live in extreme poverty, with average incomes of ARS 700,000 per month—far below the basic cost of living.

For this sector, the main goal is not upward mobility but avoiding further descent into marginalization.

Argentina is undergoing a critical moment in its socio-economic structure. While the upper class consolidates its position and the upper middle class barely gets by, the lower middle class struggles significantly, and the lower class clings to avoiding deeper poverty. This scenario reflects an increasingly unequal country where opportunities for social mobility are limited for most people.

 

[fredy]

Even if the poverty rate goes down a little, the truth is that about a quarter of the population is stuck in structural poverty and can’t break the cycle. According to UCA, in 2024 it was 23.9%, up from 22.4% the year before. So yeah, the numbers might shift a bit, but millions of people still can’t move forward or improve their situation in any real way.

Crió a sus hermanos, trabaja desde los 15 y nunca festejó su cumple, pero lucha para ser la primera de la familia en salir de la pobreza

Celeste Gómez tiene 26 años y creció en una familia trabajadora; ni sus abuelos ni su padres pudieron evitar vivir con muchas vulneraciones; su historia explica los desafíos de superar la pobreza intergeneracional en la que viven 2 de cada 10 argentinos

www.lanacion.com.ar

 

[Rusher]

Even if the poverty rate goes down a little, the truth is that about a quarter of the population is stuck in structural poverty and can’t break the cycle. According to UCA, in 2024 it was 23.9%, up from 22.4% the year before. So yeah, the numbers might shift a bit, but millions of people still can’t move forward or improve their situation in any real way.

Crió a sus hermanos, trabaja desde los 15 y nunca festejó su cumple, pero lucha para ser la primera de la familia en salir de la pobreza

Celeste Gómez tiene 26 años y creció en una familia trabajadora; ni sus abuelos ni su padres pudieron evitar vivir con muchas vulneraciones; su historia explica los desafíos de superar la pobreza intergeneracional en la que viven 2 de cada 10 argentinos

www.lanacion.com.ar

It's really sad how some things have become so normalized, like not being able to throw a birthday party or fix the holes in their roofs. I know poverty has always been around, but now it feels like so many more people are suffering, and it’s just become part of everyday life. That shouldn't be something people have to get used to.


When poverty rates fall , as INDEC reported today , it is expected that the quality of life of people living in situations of economic and social vulnerability will improve . However, this does not happen and is reflected in the sustained growth of what they call multidimensional poverty, according to a study by the UCA Social Debt Observatory (ODSA) of the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA).

This type of poverty, the study details, registered a year-on-year increase, going from 39.8% in 2023 to 41.6% in the third quarter of 2024. In addition, that percentagehas been growing since 2017, when it reached a low of 26.7%..

La pobreza que las cifras no muestran y sube desde 2018: “Se acentúan las privaciones estructurales”

Si bien el INDEC informó una mejora en el índice de pobreza, la que mide la vulnerabilidad en varias dimensiones crece desde hace siete años; qué dicen los expertos

www.lanacion.com.ar