One in eight people at risk of poverty, says CSO

Median nominal household disposable income in 2025 was €61,666, says survey

More than one in eight Irish people were at risk of poverty in 2025, up from 11.7% a year previous, according to the CSO. Picture: iStock

More than one in eight Irish people were at risk of poverty in 2025, up from 11.7% a year previous, according to the CSO. 

The statistics were released in the CSO's Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2025, the CSO’s annual household survey covering income and living conditions, which was released on Wednesday. It also showed the richest 20% of people had 3.9 times the income of the poorest 20%.

"If cost-of-living measures such as energy credits or increased/additional social welfare payments paid to eligible households in 2024 were excluded, the at risk of poverty rate would have been higher (14.9%)," said CSO statistician Darragh Turner.

The results relate to data collected in the first seven months of 2025 and income received in the 2024 calendar year. Results are based on a nationally representative sample of households, weighted to reflect the population.

Social Justice Ireland noted the 12.6% of Irish people at risk of poverty translates to 687,784 people, of which 211,150 are children. "Behind this data is the lived reality for people and households across the country. Struggling to make ends meet on fixed or low incomes and trying to cope with ongoing impact of the rising cost of household staples, further reducing the purchasing power of their income, and no sign of a fall in prices on the horizon," said Susanne Rogers, Social Justice Ireland research and policy analyst.

"Indeed, current global turmoil in oil and gas prices could further increase the cost of basic commodities.” 

The SILC showed the median nominal household disposable income in 2025 was €61,666, up €2,744 (4.7%) from 2024. However, adjusting for inflation, real median nominal household disposable income increased by just 2.4%, said Mr Turner. 

The 10% of households with the lowest disposable income had a mean weekly nominal gross income of €363. This was composed of an average €102 (28.2% of gross income) from market income and €261 (71.8% of gross income) from social transfers. After deductions, these households had an average net disposable income of €329 per week.

In contrast, the 10% of households in the highest income bracket had a mean weekly gross income of €5,787, composed of an average €5,665 (97.9%) market income and €122 (2.1%) in social transfers. After deductions, households in this 10th decile had an average €3,496 in disposable income.

The SILC showed that 15.1% of the population were defined as living in enforced deprivation in 2025. Enforced deprivation refers to the inability to afford goods, services, or activities that are considered necessary for an acceptable standard of living. 

Persons aged under 18 years (16.9%) had the highest at risk of poverty rate in SILC 2025, followed by those aged 65 years and over (14.8%). Those aged 18 to 34 years had the lowest at risk of poverty rate of 9.3%.