Analysts point to low incomes of Azerbaijani residents

According to a joint study conducted by the Baku Human Rights Club and the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), most of Azerbaijani residents are deprived of normal housing and access to quality medical services because of their low incomes.

The 75-page joint report of the two organizations includes reports on four thematic areas, including the labour law, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to access to high standards of medical care, and the right to education.

“The main findings of this study relate to the inability of the majority of the Azerbaijani population to have an adequate standard of living because of insufficient income, access to food, or housing. The analysed data indicate that a significant portion of households are not self-sufficient because of low incomes or ineffective government support. The survey results show that the proportion of households that can easily cover the necessary expenses does not exceed 30%. The period of the pandemic was especially difficult due to rising unemployment,” the report says.

The report focuses on the fall in real incomes of the population of Azerbaijan. Thus, according to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, in 2013, per capita income in Azerbaijan amounted to 4,039.60 manats (about 5200 US dollars at that time) or per year 336 manats (about 430 US dollars) per month. However, in 2020, despite a nominal increase in income to 5587.60 manats (about 3296 US dollars) per year or 465 manats (about 274 US dollars) per month, in fact, the incomes of the population decreased by 37% due to the devaluation of 2015-2016 and high inflation.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 8, 2022 at 12:22 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.