IN 2005 ARMENIAN HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE REMITTANCES OF 940 MLN USD FROM ABROAD
Noyan Tapan
Aug 09 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2005, Armenian households received
remittances equivalent to about 940 mln USD, 97% of this amount was
in dollars.
Karine Karapetian, head of the Foreign Section Statistics Unit of the
Central Bank of Armenia (CBA’s) Statsitical Department, stated this
during a press conference today. 37% of Armenian households, mainly
citizens of the middle class, whose average monthly income exceeds
the minimum consumer basket of 12,467 drams, receive remittances. The
share of the poor and the extremely poor is large in the number
of remittance recipients, with the extremely poor accounting for
a small part of recipients. According to K. Karapetian, the above
mentioned indices were evaluated as a result of a survey conducted in
February-April 2006. She said that residents of Yerevan make up 34%
of those receiving remittances. Remittances are mainly sent from Russia
(72%) and the US (14%).
Among other countries are Germany, Greece, Ukraine, from which 5% of
remittances come. 31% of remittances are from those engaged in seasonal
work abroad, while 69% – from relatives and other persons living in a
foreign country. The speaker noted that the majority of those who send
remittances to Armenia are engaged in construction and trade abroad.