Phnom Penh: The government found that 17.8 percent of the population is living below the poverty line, up from 13.5 percent in the 2014 survey. The Royal Government has explained that the increase in the number of people living below the poverty line is due to the transition of Cambodia from a low-income country to a low-middle-income country in 2016.

Senior Minister and Minister of Planning Chhay Thorn has announced that in 2019-2020, the national poverty line is set at 10,951 riels per person per day. This means that people who earn less than 10,951 riels are classified as those who live below the poverty line. He shares that Cambodia's economy has grown significantly and become a low-middle-income country in 2015, which has led to significant changes in consumption for the basic needs of the Cambodian people. While in India, before the poverty line was changed, in 2004-2005 the poverty rate was only 27.5percent, but when the line was changed it went up to 37percent, up 10. All countries also face this same dilemma, and so poverty reduction is endless.

The senior minister has also added that the Covid-19 problem was also a factor affecting the poverty line assessment. Cambodia began to set its poverty rate in 1993-1994, finding that about 39 percent of the population lived below the poverty line, it has reduced from 22.9 percent in 2009 and down. At 13.5 percent in 2014, however, Cambodia is still in the group of low-income countries up to this date.