One in seven people in the TRNC living under poverty line

One in seven people living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are surviving below the poverty line.

According to the results obtained from the Household Budget Survey (HBA) announced by the Statistical Institute, while 14.4 percent of the population is below the poverty line.

The figures released also showed that the bottom 20 per cent of earners take home just 6.7 per cent of total earnings in the TRNC, while the top 20 per cent of earners take home 43.6 per cent.

In addition, just over a fifth of total household expenditure in the TRNC was spent on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel expenditures, while a further fifth was spent on food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Figures released on the same day by the Cyprus Turkish public servants’ trade union (Ktams) show the TRNC’s “hunger line” to be 17,472TL (€574) per month.

The number, which is based on what it costs to feed a family of four for a month, is over 10 per cent higher than the TRNC’s minimum wage, which is currently set at 15,750TL (€517).