Rosstat lowers estimate of poverty level in Russia in 2023 to 8.5% from 9.3%

MOSCOW. May 2 (Interfax) - Rosstat has lowered its estimate of the poverty level in Russia in 2023 to 8.5% from 9.3% according to its preliminary estimate (published in March), the statistical service said in a statement.

Rosstat also clarified changes to the poverty level from 2012-2022 using data from the All-Russian Population Census. As a result, poverty rate estimate for 2022 dropped to 9.0% from 9.8%.

Rosstat assesses the level of poverty "without taking into account statistical information for the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), Zaporozhye and Kherson regions."

"Rosstat has published the final estimate for 2022. The first estimate for 2023 uses preliminary data from sample observations of household incomes and participation in social programs for 2023, covering 60,000 households across the country. The observations were conducted in January-February 2024. Also the first estimate of per capita monetary income was formed based on the clarification of individual indicators from the Bank of Russia, the Federal Tax Service of Russia, industry statistics and on the basis of data from the All-Russian Population Census," Rosstat said with regard to the clarification of the estimate for 2023.

As reported, in his February address to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin formulated the task for the government of reducing the poverty level in Russia to below 7% by 2030.