The Department of Census and Statistics has released the Official Poverty Line figures for April 2025, revealing that an individual requires a minimum of Rs. 16,342 per month to meet basic needs.
According to the data, the highest cost of fulfilling basic monthly needs was recorded in the Colombo District at Rs. 17,625, while the lowest was in the Monaragala District at Rs. 15,626.
The poverty line represents the minimum expenditure required by a person to meet basic food and non-food needs, and it is revised monthly to reflect inflation and cost-of-living changes.
According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the Official Poverty Line was updated based on the 2012/13 Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
The department further said that the District Official Poverty Lines have been re-estimated, adjusting for price differences using the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI).
Full report : https://www.statistics.gov.lk/povertyLine/2021_Rebase#gsc.tab=0 (Newswire)