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Argentina’s Poverty Rate Soars to 53% Under President Milei’s Austerity Measures

The drastic economic reforms have led to severe inflation and recession, impacting millions of Argentines.

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Argentina's President Javier Milei addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 24, 2024.  REUTERS/Mike Segar
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Unemployed Viviana Quevedo, 57, sits on a street holding a sign that reads "I am looking for a job in order to be able to rent" in Buenos Aires, 25 September 2024

Overview

  • Argentina's poverty rate increased from 41.7% to 52.9% in the first six months of President Javier Milei's term.
  • The extreme poverty rate also surged, rising from 11.9% to 18.1%, marking the highest levels since the 2003 financial crisis.
  • President Milei's austerity measures included dismantling price controls, cutting subsidies, and devaluing the peso by 54%, leading to a recession and a significant contraction in spending power.
  • Inflation remains a critical issue, with annual rates exceeding 230%, despite a reduction in monthly inflation from 25.5% to 4.2%.
  • The middle class has been severely affected, with many Argentines losing jobs, cutting back on basic expenses, and relying on social assistance and informal work.