This map shows the spatial distribution of the number of individuals living in relative poverty, defined as having an income below the official poverty line of the country they live in. According to the latest data from the World Bank and Eurostat, the total number of people living in poverty for all countries is 109,387,770. This is approximately 18% of the total population in Europe, as defined in this atlas. The highest absolute number is observed in Turkey, followed by Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain. However, in relative terms the largest proportion of the total population living in poverty is observed in Kosovo (29.7%), followed by Turkey (26.0%), Bulgaria (22.3%), Romania (22.2%) and Spain (21.8%). The smallest percentages are observed in Iceland (9.2%), Serbia (9.2%), Montenegro (9.3%), the Czech Republic (9.8%) and Norway (10.5%).

According to the latest data from the World Bank there are an estimated 4 million people in Europe living on the equivalent of less than US$2 a day at 2005 international prices, when prices are made comparable using established purchasing power parity (PPP) ratios. This is a measure that makes it possible to compare prices in different countries – for example to compare the cost of a meal that might cost $2 in the United States with the cost of a similar meal in another country.