One-third of Russians become dependent on welfare benefits - official stats

As much as 33 per cent of Russian citizens, or 42.7 million people, are in need of various public welfare benefits, RBC reports, citing a report by the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat).

"A total of 128.6 million respondents in the census indicated their sources of livelihood (87 per cent of the total population). Around 58.4 million people [39.6 per cent of the total population, or 45 per cent of those who reported their sources of income) reported receiving wages, while benefits as a source of income were mentioned by every third person [33 per cent of respondents, or 42.7 million people]," the report says.

According to Rosstat, pensions, unemployment benefits, social allowances (pregnancy allowance, monthly child allowance), as well as benefits and subsidies, are among the most common public welfare payments that Russians need. Citizens aged 60 and over are mostly dependent on these types of state payments.