Uzbekistan announces new poverty line for 2025  

Uzbekistan has set the minimum monthly consumption expenditure per person at 669,000 sums, meaning families whose per capita spending exceeds this amount will not be officially classified as poor. This was detailed in a report titled "On the Value of Minimum Consumption Expenditure," published by the Statistics Agency on February 4.  

According to the report, the 2025 minimum consumption expenditure was determined based on the consumer price index (CPI) for December 2024. The new figure marks an increase from the previous level of 648,000 sums, which was set on May 1, 2024.  

The minimum consumption expenditure for the coming year will be adjusted in accordance with price fluctuations in food, non-food goods, and services.  

Globally, the minimum consumption expenditure is widely used as a benchmark for determining the poverty line. In Uzbekistan, this indicator helps:  

- Identify vulnerable populations eligible for state financial and social assistance.  
- Enhance the effectiveness of poverty reduction strategies and ensure continuous monitoring.  
- Determine minimum pension and benefit amounts and allocate other forms of material aid to low-income families.  

Previously, Uzbekistan's poverty level was assessed based on international standards. By the end of 2024, the national poverty rate had fallen from 11% to 8.9%, meaning 3.3 million people (or 719,000 households) moved out of poverty compared to 2023.