Local residents in Sơn Dương District, Tuyên Quang Province grow sugarcane to escape poverty. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Tý

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has more than 1.97 million poor and near-poor households nationwide based on the multi-dimensional poverty standards, mostly in the northern and central parts of the country.

The data has been revealed in a survey conducted by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The survey showed that the overall national poverty ratio was 7.52 per cent, with 4.03 per cent being poor households and 3.49 per cent being near-poor families.

The highest poverty ratio based on the multi-dimensional poverty standards was seen in the northern midland and mountainous region, at 21.92 per cent, followed by the Central Highlands at 15.39 per cent, the north-central and central coastal region at 10.04 per cent, the Mekong Delta region at 5.73 per cent, the Red River Delta region at 2.45 per cent, and the southeast region, 0.34 per cent.

The data of the survey serves as a foundation for the ministry to decide poverty reduction and social welfare policies as well as other socio-economic policies in 2023.

Under a government decree on the new multi-dimensional poverty standards for the 2021-2025 period, the income-based poverty threshold for poor households is raised from VNĐ700,000 (US$29.5) per person per month in rural areas, applicable in the 2016-2020 period, to VNĐ1.5 million ($63.4) per person per month.

In urban areas, it will be VNĐ2 million ($84.5) per person per month, compared with VNĐ900,000 ($38) in the previous term. — VNS