More than 1 in 4 Israeli families lived under poverty line in 2021: Report
An official report says the poverty rate in Israel rose to 20 percent in 2021, meaning more than one in four Israeli households were unable to cover monthly expenses due to financial strains.
Twenty percent of Israel’s 9.6 million population (about 1.95 million people), including 853,000 children and 213,000 elderly, were considered poor in 2021, falling below the 2021 poverty line, according to a report published by insurance institute NII.
"More than 1 in 4 households in Israel (26%) were unable to cover all monthly expenses in 2021, with 10.6% of households forgoing medical treatment and 6.9% going without buying prescription drugs,” the report said, adding, “Israel was ranked as having the second-highest poverty rate in the developed world, second only to Costa Rica.”
The 2021 poverty line in Israel sat at about 2,849 shekels for individuals, 5,698 shekels for couples and between 9,117-12,108 shekels for couples with 2 to 4 children.
Yarona Shalom, director general of the NII, said Israel has been battered for years by poverty and inequality, stressing that the Israelis have felt the squeeze of inflation and economic malaise since the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
"To deal with the disparities in society, an increase in allowances is required on the one hand and on the other hand providing tools and assistance to families and individuals who are in the labor market but whose salary is low, with an emphasis on the periphery," the NII’s director general said.
Netanyahu was sworn in on December 29, with his coalition cabinet saying it has a plan to address the rising living costs, including water, electricity and fuel.
The occupied territories were the scene of mass rallies against the Israeli prime minister in 2021 over Netanyahu’s graft charges and what was viewed as his mishandling of the pandemic.
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