"Hetq" news agency, based on 2024 data fr om the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, studied the picture of child poverty in Armenia, according to which almost every fourth child in the country lives in poverty: 28% of children are poor, 0.9% are extremely poor.
The lowest child poverty rate was recorded in Syunik province. The poverty rate among 0-18 year olds is 9.6%, and there are no extremely poor children in the province. Syunik also has the lowest overall poverty rates in Armenia. According to 2024 data, the poverty rate in the province was 6.2%, and extreme poverty was 0%.
Experts attribute this phenomenon to the relatively high level of average wages and local employment. The vast majority of employees at the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, Syunik's largest employer, are residents of this province. Stable employment and competitive wages contribute to the socio-economic well-being of Syunik, as also reflected in poverty statistics.
For comparison, it should be noted that the overall poverty rate in Yerevan is 16.9%, and the extreme poverty rate is 0.4%. Child poverty in the capital reaches 21.7%, and 0.7% of children live in extreme poverty.
The highest rates were recorded in Shirak province, wh ere 52.3% of children live in poverty and 5.4%, in extreme poverty. Here, the overall poverty rate reaches 43%, and extreme poverty is 2.4%. Shirak is followed by Tavush and Vayots Dzor provinces in terms of poverty rates, with 39.9% and 30.3%, respectively.