POVERTY LEVEL DECREASES IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary results
of summarized study of living standard of home farms conducted in 2005
by RA National Statistical Service, 29.8% of RA population is poor,
4.6% extremely poor. According to the results of study conducted in
2004, these indices made 34.6% and 6.4%, respectively, and according
to the results of 1998/99 56.1% and 21%.

For the above mentioned periods, the abject (food) poverty line was
calculated in the amount of 13.266 thousand drams (about 30 USD),
12.467 thousand drams and 11.21 thousand drams and the general poverty
line in the amount of 20.289 thousand drams, 19.373 thousand drams
and 17.663 thousand drams.

In 2005, 2004 and 1998/99, the level of poverty and abject poverty in
Armenian towns made 30.7% and 5.3%, 36.4% and 7.5%, 62.1% and 26.2%,
respectively, in Yerevan 32.6% and 4%, 29.2% and 6.1%, 58.4% and 24.8%,
in other towns 37.8% and 7.2%, 43.9% and 9.2%, 65.5% and 27.4%, in
rural populated areas 28.3% and 3.2%, 31.7% and 4.4%, 48.2% and 14.1%.

In 2005, poverty level in RA regions fluctuated from 19.2% (Vayots
Dzor) to 42.5% (Shirak), abject poverty level from 1.8% (Vayots Dzor)
to 8.7% (Kotayk).