1. In 2009 UNICEF initiated a two stage Welfare Monitoring Survey (WMS). The first survey
(Wave 1) was completed in 2009. Wave 2, almost identical in design to the first survey,
was carried out in 2011. It covers a nationally representative sample of 4147 households
across Georgia who had taken part in Wave one.
2. The aim of WMS was to provide reliable data on poverty indicators in Georgia and
determine coping strategies households used to mitigate financial disaster from the
local effects of the aftermath of the global economic crisis.
3. Average monthly household income in 2011 was 374 GEL. Adjusted for the household
size and ages,income per equivalent adult (PAE) increased to 161 GEL from 140
GEL in 2009. However, when adjusted for inflation, the average monthly household
income PAE actually fell by two per cent but it is not a statistically significant change.
4. Urban monthly mean incomes (209 GEL PAE) remain significantly higher than rural
incomes (111 GEL PAE) on average. Low incomes are more evenly distributed across
rural parts of the country while the urban area incomes are more unequally distributed.
5. When household consumption is expressed per adult equivalent the median for 2011 is
182 GEL and the mean is 232 GEL. . When adjusted for inflation the mean corresponds
to 197.7 GEL which is not significantly different from 2009 mean of 191 GEL.
6. Consumption poverty was measured against three thresholds: relative poverty at 60% of
median consumption (109.2 GEL a month); absolute extreme poverty at 71.7 GEL a
month; and absolute general poverty of 143.4 GEL a month. The absolute thresholds are
the same as in 2009 but adjusted for inflation. The relative threshold is the same
concept as threshold used in the 2009 WMS analysis. Extreme and
US$2.5 a day to identify such poverty.