ROME, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The incidence of absolute poverty increased in Italy in 2017, the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) said on Wednesday.

Some 5 million individuals (or 1.8 million families) were estimated living below the economic standards defining extreme deprivation in the country, according to ISTAT.

It represented 8.3 percent of Italy's 60-million population, compared to 7.9 percent in 2016, and 6.1 percent in 2015.

In 2008 -- before being hit by the global financial crisis -- the Italian economy had 4.9 percent of individuals in absolute poverty.

"Within the families extremely deprived, all working-aged members were in search of a job during 2017," ISTAT president Giorgio Alleva said at a hearing before a joint parliamentary commission.

"The incidence has been much higher in the southern areas than in the north," Alleva noted.

Considering the demographic distribution, there were about 2 families in absolute poverty out of 100 households in Northern Italy, and 7 out of 100 in Southern Italy.

Compared to 2016, ISTAT estimated the number of extremely poor families dropped by almost 15,000 units in the north, but rose by some 13,000 units in the south.

According to the statistical agency, a moderate increase of inflation registered in 2017 could explain about half of the overall rate increase.

"For the rest, the rise was due to a worsening of the spending capacity of many families that have fallen under the poverty line," it stated.

Last year, Italy approved its first ever anti-poverty provision to ensure a stable economic support to families in distress, allocating some 2 billion euros (2.37 billion U.S. dollars) for 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Worth between 400 euros and 530 euros per month on average per family, the measure provides a basic income to deprived households according to their own earnings.

Considering the funds allocated, some 400,000 families were expected to benefit from it.

Before that, Italy was among the very few countries in the EU to lack a structural and universal provision against poverty.