Thirty thousand people, nine percent of the Icelandic population, are below the poverty line, while 13 percent are at risk according to a new report from the Red Cross, ruv.is reports.
According to the report, the largest group on welfare are young people, young men in particular. A total of 3,000 young people receive financial support from the municipalities.
Unemployment is highest among 18-24 years-olds, or 7.7 percent compared to the average unemployment rate in the country, which currently stands at 4.5 percent.
The report also found that social class differences in Icelandic society are greater than a decade ago and the imbalance in quality of life has increased correspondingly.
Discrimination against foreigners has also increased, in particular against immigrants from outside of Europe.
This is the fifth time that the report is published in 20 years.
The report’s findings will be presented at a symposium at Grand Hotel at 1:30 pm today.
