13.5 million people lived below the poverty line in 2023 – Kommersant

Over the past year, the poverty level in Russia dropped to 9.3% compared to 9.8% a year earlier. reported Rosstat. In 2023, 13.5 million Russians received incomes below the subsistence level, compared to 14.3 million people in 2022. This is a record low figure on record. As the All-Russia Research Institute of Labor explains, this is due to the introduction of benefits for families with children, as well as a shortage of personnel.

The poverty level began to gradually decrease from the beginning of 2023 – this is influenced by seasonality (payment of bonuses at the end of the year). In the first quarter of the year, the poverty level was 13.5% (for the same period in 2022 – 14.3%), in the second – 10.8% (12.1% a year earlier), in the third quarter – 10.2% (10 .5%), in the fourth – 6.8% (for the same period in 2022 – 7.9%).

“Two key factors that contributed to the reduction in poverty were targeted benefits for families with children and the situation on the labor market,” Vladimir Smirnov, acting director general of the All-Russian Research Institute of Labor, said in a statement. From the beginning of 2023, a unified benefit for children from birth to 17 years was launched. It is awarded to families with low incomes “based on a comprehensive assessment of need.” The benefit amount is 50%, 75% or 100% of the subsistence level in the region. From February 1 in Russia will be indexed more than 40 more payments and benefits.

The reduction in poverty was also influenced by the increase in the number of working Russians, an increase in the minimum wage and salaries, competition for workers, and the payment of benefits. “At the moment, a further reduction in the poverty level is seen not only due to active social support, but also through stimulating economic growth, entrepreneurial activity and employment, the contribution of which to reducing poverty will continue to increase,” according to the All-Russian Research Institute of Labor.

In his address to the Federal Assembly on February 29, President Vladimir Putin ordered the poverty rate to be reduced to 7% by 2030. He also offered increase the minimum wage by 2030 to 35 thousand rubles.

Anastasia Larina