Uzbekistan's statistical agency has updated the country's poverty line definition based on minimum consumer expenditure, Daryo.uz has reported.

The poverty threshold has been determined at UZS 568,000 ($48.90) per person per month, up 14% from UZS 498,000 ($42.80).

The minimum consumer spending outlay was last updated on January 9, 2022, but since then headline inflation has exceeded 16.1%, with food inflation reaching 20.3%.

A survey of 10,600 households in 2021 identified the lowest expenditure group, which covered 30% of households. Based on the survey data, the minimum daily consumption of food and non-food goods and services was priced at UZS 498,000 ($42.80) per person per month.

Minimum consumer spending takes into account a person's daily needs for food and non-food products, as well as services. The methodology used involves determining basic expenses necessary to calculate a person's daily budget.

An Uzbekistan update published by the IFRC last week stated: "Based to the official national definition of poverty, the poverty rate has fallen from almost 28% in 2000 to 11% in 2019 and most of the poverty affects rural areas.

"In 2020, official statistics estimated unemployment at 10.5% of the active labour force, while another 34% of the working-age population were inactive (that is, not working or looking for a job). High unemployment and low wages are the cause of labour migration, mostly to Russia. Remittances from labour migrants, on which the country is also dependent, have been affected by COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict."