noun
hidden poverty; poverty despite high income
Refers to a situation where a person or household appears well-off due to a high income but actually struggles financially because of high expenses, debt, or other obligations.
高収入でも住宅ローンや教育費で隠れ貧困に陥る家庭が増えている。
Even with high incomes, more households are falling into hidden poverty due to mortgages and education costs.
彼は年収が高いのに、隠れ貧困で貯金がほとんどない。
Despite his high annual income, he is in hidden poverty and has almost no savings.
ワーキングプア refers to the working poor with low wages; 隠れ貧困 can affect those with high incomes but high fixed costs.
Compound of 隠れ (hidden) and 貧困 (poverty). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely emerged in modern socio-economic discourse to describe a phenomenon where outward affluence masks financial struggle.