Survey on poverty rate completed

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A survey in family socio-economics for 2012 has been completed with a purpose to estimate Mongolia's economic growth, approximate incomes of families and poverty rate. This survey has been carried out by the Mongolian National Statistical Committee (MNSC) and the World Bank (WB) since 1997 in Mongolia. Indicators of the poverty and livelihood rates are estimated at each level of the city, provinces and regions. It is very important to assess planning of the country’s development and effectiveness of state policy and various programmes. The previous surveys show the poverty rate was 38.7 per cent in 2010, and it declined to 33.7 per cent in 2011. It also went down to 27.4 per cent by the year 2012, meaning that the poverty rate has been gradually declining here. A family with a total monthly income of MNT 118 thousand 668 or below is considered as a low income or poor family. Country Director of the WB for Mongolia Coralie Gevers said,"It is important for any country to estimate its poverty rate because the policy-makers draw decisions based on this rate. Mongolia does not have a specific and concrete method to estimate its poverty rate, so Mongolia should choose the most appropriate one which meets international standards.". "Since 2010, the poverty rate has been gradually decreasing in Mongolia. It seems that the goals on reducing poverty rate are succeeding, but Mongolia must not forget that the poverty rate is still 27 per cent. Mongolia faces a requirement to implement an appropriate policy focusing on the poverty. The WB will pay great attention to this matter" Ms Gevers said.