(ANSAmed) - MADRID - In Spain 19.6% of its population lives below the relative poverty threshold due to the deep economic recession, according to the 'Living conditions survey' published today by the national statistics institute. This percentage is much higher in the poorest regions in the south, like Estremadura (38.4%) and Andalusia (28.9%). According to the report, in 2008 9 million Spaniards had an income that was 60% lower than the national average. The gap between the northern and southern part of the country is clear: in Navarra and the Basque Country only 6.5% and 8.5% of the population lives below the relative poverty threshold, against the 38.4% in Estremadura. In the middle are regions like Madrid (14.5%), Valencia (20.2%) and Catalonia (12.8%). Of all people older than 65 years, 27.6% live below the poverty threshold. The middle classes are getting poorer as well. The survey shows in fact that households had an average income of 26,000 euros in 2008. Though this average is 0.6% higher than in 2007, a third of households were unable to go on vacation in 2008 and 30% were not able to deal with unexpected expenses. And 5.3% cannot even afford to heat their houses in winter.(ANSAmed).