Population under the poverty line in Russia quarterly 2021-2023

In the fourth quarter of 2023, nearly 10 million people in Russia lived under the poverty line, marking a considerable decrease compared to the previous three months. The number of Russian residents that earned an income below the subsistence minimum declined over the course of 2023.

What percentage of Russians live in poverty?

Looking at annual figures, Russia’s poverty rate has declined since 2015, when it exceeded 13 percent. Approximately seven percent of the population of Russia lived below the national poverty line between October and December 2023. Several other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Latvia, reported higher poverty rates.

Subsistence minimum in Russia

Starting from January 1, 2024, monthly per capita subsistence minimum in Russia stood at 16,844 Russian rubles for the working-age population and at 15,453 Russian rubles on average. That figure includes the cost of essential goods, such as food products, clothing, and medicines, and services, such as utilities and transportation costs. The subsistence minimum was lower than the average wage in Russia, which was set at 19.242 Russian rubles from January 1, 2024.