A new study has defined the income thresholds that distinguish rich from poor in France.

According to a study undertaken by the Observatoire des inégalités the income level which constitutes poverty in France is a person living on less than €729 a month, or €1,423 a month for a couple without children.

These thresholds are 50% of the average income in France, meaning that under this definition 5 million (7%) of the population would be considered to be living at or below the poverty level.

A couple without children with a monthly income (before taxes) of €2,847 would be considered to have an average income, whilst at €5,693 and beyond you would be considered to be amongst the richest 10% of couples in France. At this level your income would be twice the national average.

The study does not measure wealth (assets), and neither does it take any account of variations in the cost of living in different parts of the country so cannot be considered to be entirely conclusive.

The following table shows the income levels, by different household groups, that place the population within the categories defined by the study.