Population under the poverty line in Russia 1995-2023

In 2023, more than 12 million people in Russia lived under the poverty line, marking a considerable decrease compared to the previous year. The number of Russian residents that earned an income below the subsistence minimum was 30 million higher in 2000.

What percentage of Russians live in poverty?

Looking at annual figures, Russia’s poverty rate has declined since 2015 when it exceeded 13 percent. Less than nine percent of the population of Russia lived below the national poverty line in 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.