Around 18 percent of the population, or 26 million people, live below the poverty line, compared with just 5 percent in 1991. The poverty line is drawn at a quarter of the average monthly income, which is currently 250,000 rubles ($81) per month. The news agency did not define "extreme poverty."
Almost 73 percent of the population, or 107 million people, have lower than average incomes, the ministry said.
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