Accessibility of Leisure, Holidays, and Clothing for Armenians Revealed

The newspaper "Fact" reports: According to data published by the Statistical Committee, the level of poverty in Armenia was assessed at 27% in 2020, which is 0.6% higher than the indicator for 2019. However, experts believe that this statistic does not reflect the real situation.

Member of Parliament and economist Tadevos Avetisyan noted in an interview with "Fact" that the increase in the poverty level, even by statistical measures, is significant and there is a risk of further deepening social problems. He stated, “The factors that cause poverty and hinder rapid economic recovery are not only persisting but are also increasing rapidly, leading to additional consequences.”

In addition, the Statistical Committee has also calculated the degree of deprivation. This indicator reflects people's inability to acquire certain desired or even necessary goods. According to the published statistics, 78% of the population in Armenia cannot afford to spend a week away from home on vacation. Sixty-eight percent cannot manage an unexpected expense of 45,000 drams without going into debt, while 75% are unable to regularly participate in paid recreational activities such as sports, cinema, concerts, etc.

Furthermore, 47% of the population cannot afford to eat meat, poultry, fish, or equivalent vegetarian meals daily, and 60% cannot own a car. Fifty-one percent cannot attend any party at least once a month, and 42% cannot ensure their home is adequately heated. Moreover, 30% of the population cannot replace worn-out clothing with new items.

For more details, refer to today’s edition of the newspaper.