Vietnamese income rises, gap widens: Survey
Ha Noi, Jan. 14 (VNA) -- The average income of Vietnamese workers rose in 2001 and the first half of 2002 while the gap betwen poor and rich groups was widening, according to a survey conducted by the General Department of Statistics (GDS).
The average monthly income is currently 331,000 VND (22 USD), a 12.2 percent rise over 1999, with Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces residents' income topping the list.
The survey, which divides Viet Nam into 8 geographical zones, shows that residents in the southern hub and its vicinity earn on average 490,000 VND a month, followed by those in the Mekong delta (371,000 VND).
The monthly income of Ha Noi and Red River provinces' residents ranked third at 337,000 VND.
North-western and Central Highlands residents earned the lowest income, 259,000 VND and 269,000 VND a month on average.
Expenditures are on the up thanks to rising income. The average monthly expenditure by Vietnamese was estimated at 255,000 VND, or 15.3 percent increase compared to 1999.
Apart from spendings on living conditions, each Vietnamese was able to save 76,000 VND (roughly 5 USD) a month on average.
The gap between the rich and poor in the meantime has been widening. Classifying the target population into ten groups based on their income, the survey shows that the richest group's income is 12.5-fold as much as that of the poorest group, or 1.9-fold higher than in 1999.
