Poverty level in Armenia drops by 4 percent over one decade
09.12.2019,
16:24
In 2018, the poverty level in Armenia dropped by 4.1 percentage points from 2008 to 23.5%, according to a report called "Poverty and Social Panorama of Armenia," compiled by the National Statistical Committee (NSC).
YEREVAN, December 9. /ARKA/. In 2018, the poverty level in Armenia dropped by 4.1 percentage points from 2008 to 23.5%, according to a report called "Poverty and Social Panorama of Armenia" compiled by the National Statistical Committee (NSC).
NSC said to assess the poverty rate in the country, it used consumption expenditures, which provide more accurate information, since lack of income does not in itself imply a zero level of welfare.
According to the report, the decrease in poverty level was driven by economic growth in 2018, which increased by 5.2% compared to the previous year. The report says the average real monthly consumption of the population increased by 13.2% compared to 2008. The difference in poverty levels in urban and rural areas was 3.6 percentage points. In urban areas, this indicator reached 24.9% and 21.3% in rural areas.
Diana Martirosyan, an advisor to the head of the Statistical Committee, said when presenting the findings of the study that the depth of poverty decreased from 5.1% in 2008 to 4.2% in 2018, and the severity of poverty decreased from 1.4% to 1.1%.
“In 2018, the total number of the poor in Armenia stood at about 700 thousand people. Of them 315,000 were moderately poor, and 30,000 extremely poor. Compared to the previous year, the total number of the poor, moderately and extremely poor decreased,” Martirosyan said.
She said t the poverty level in Yerevan was 19.9%, and extreme poverty - 1.0%. In Aragatsotn, Ararat, Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Syunik regions, zero percent of extreme poverty was registered. The highest poverty rates were recorded in Shirak (42.2%) and Lori (29.4%) regions.
The permanent population of Armenia as of October 1, 2019 stood at 2,957,500 people. --0--
NSC said to assess the poverty rate in the country, it used consumption expenditures, which provide more accurate information, since lack of income does not in itself imply a zero level of welfare.
According to the report, the decrease in poverty level was driven by economic growth in 2018, which increased by 5.2% compared to the previous year. The report says the average real monthly consumption of the population increased by 13.2% compared to 2008. The difference in poverty levels in urban and rural areas was 3.6 percentage points. In urban areas, this indicator reached 24.9% and 21.3% in rural areas.
Diana Martirosyan, an advisor to the head of the Statistical Committee, said when presenting the findings of the study that the depth of poverty decreased from 5.1% in 2008 to 4.2% in 2018, and the severity of poverty decreased from 1.4% to 1.1%.
“In 2018, the total number of the poor in Armenia stood at about 700 thousand people. Of them 315,000 were moderately poor, and 30,000 extremely poor. Compared to the previous year, the total number of the poor, moderately and extremely poor decreased,” Martirosyan said.
She said t the poverty level in Yerevan was 19.9%, and extreme poverty - 1.0%. In Aragatsotn, Ararat, Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Syunik regions, zero percent of extreme poverty was registered. The highest poverty rates were recorded in Shirak (42.2%) and Lori (29.4%) regions.
The permanent population of Armenia as of October 1, 2019 stood at 2,957,500 people. --0--
