Cambodia has updated the country’s poverty line based on the 2019-2020 Socio-Economic Survey wherein the national minimum was set at 10,951 Riel (roughly US$2.7) per capita a day.
The update was shared during a press conference on Nov. 17 led by Senior Minister and Minister of Planning H.E. Chhay Than at the Office of the Council of Ministers here in Phnom Penh.
To measure the poverty, it is necessary to define the poverty line, and thanks to Cambodia’s rapid growth, the Royal Government through the technical support from the World Bank has defined a more accurate and updated poverty line, said the senior minister.
The update also specifies the poverty lines for those living in the urban and rural areas with 9,571 Riel (US$2.3) and 8,908 Riel (US$2.2), respectively.
Based on the upgraded poverty line, Cambodia has found that there are about 17.8 percent of Cambodians living under the poverty line.
There are about 4.2 Cambodians living under the poverty line in Phnom Penh, and 12.6 in urban areas while 22.8 in rural areas.
The senior minister added that Cambodia’s first poverty line was defined in 1997 and the second one was determined in 2013 and used until now.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press