Census results attest to China’s complete victory in eradicating absolute poverty

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) — The results of a national anti-poverty census, released Thursday, have attested to China’s “complete victory” in eradicating absolute poverty.

According to the current standards, all Chinese poverty-stricken rural residents have been lifted out of poverty, said sources with the State Council leading group office of national anti-poverty census.

The census provided true and accurate statistical information, said the sources in an interview. “The results fully demonstrate that China’s progress in poverty alleviation is solid and can stand the test of history and the people.”

According to the office, multiple measures were taken to ensure the data quality of the census, including a scientifically designed census plan, as well as the electronic and networked process of data production.

From 2020 to early 2021, more than 210,000 census workers conducted the poverty-alleviation survey in 22 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the central and western parts of China.

In 2020, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in poverty-stricken counties reached 12,588 yuan (about 1,950.96 U.S. dollars), with an annual average growth of 11.6 percent since 2012, which is 2.3 percentage points higher than that of the rural population nationwide, survey data showed.

Rural poor have been offered guarantees in terms of food, clothing, compulsory education, basic health care, and access to safe housing and drinking water, the census results also showed. Enditem