According to the 2011 survey across 63 provinces and cities nationwide, the country had over 4 million families living below or at the poverty line.

Among the 22 million families that the survey covers, there are 2.5 million poor families, accounting for 11.7%, and the number of families living near the poverty line is 1.5 million, accounting for 7%.

The highest rate of poor families is found in the mountainous north-western region (33%) and the lowest rate in south-eastern region (1.7%).

According to Deputy Minister of Labour, War-Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam, the survey results will help to guide social welfare policies and other socio-economic policies in 2012./.