The poverty level in Armenia, calculated by national methodology, decreased from 26.5% in 2021 to 21.7% in 2024. However, about two-thirds of the country's population still falls into the category of poor or economically vulnerable, stated World Bank senior economist Armine Manukyan:
“In recent years, Armenia's economic growth has been quite impressive, and the poverty level has decreased. However, the benefits of high growth are not equally shared,” said Manukyan:
43.4% of the population remains vulnerable
In 2024, the share of economically vulnerable residents of Armenia was 43.4%. This category includes citizens whose per capita consumption exceeds the national poverty line by no more than 1.5 times:
Thus, the combined share of poor and economically vulnerable residents of the country reached 65.1%:
According to Manukyan, such households are at risk of falling back into poverty in the event of job loss, income reduction, or other economic shocks:
Where in Armenia is the highest level of poverty
In rural areas, the poverty level in 2024 was 26.1%, in cities outside Yerevan — 22.8%, and in the capital — 16.9%:
The highest indicators were recorded in the Shirak and Tavush regions — about 49% and 47%, respectively. The lowest poverty level was noted in the Syunik region:
According to international criteria, 47.4% are considered poor
When applying the international poverty line for upper-middle-income countries — $8.3 per day per person in purchasing power parity of 2021 — the poverty level in Armenia in 2024 was 47.4%:
This figure differs from the poverty level calculated by national methodology due to the use of a different poverty line and is intended for international comparisons:
Why having a job does not always protect against poverty
As noted in the report, having a job does not guarantee an escape from poverty. Key factors include labor productivity, job stability, and its formal nature:
Poor workers are often employed in agriculture, work informally, or are self-employed:
To sustainably reduce poverty, the World Bank recommends that Armenia improve job quality, expand formal employment, enhance workers' skills, and improve the targeting of social assistance:
