PEOPLE'S LIFE | INCOME | RESIDENTIAL QUARTERS | WELFARE

Summary

The living standard of urban and rural residents continued to improve, attaining the level of moderate prosperity as a whole. With the accelerated economic growth, the State raised the level of the basic living allowances for laid-off workers from State-owned enterprises, the unemployment insurance and the minimum living expenses for urban residents, which are known as "three security systems". The State also increased the salaries of employees in administrative organs and various institutions. With the implementation of these policy measures, the income of urban residents increased noticeably. The annual per-capita disposable income of urban residents was 6,280 yuan in 2000, a real increase of 6.4 percent over the previous year. Due to the reduction of grain output and low prices for most farm products, the growth rate for farmers' income continued declining. The per-capita net income of farmers was 2,253 yuan, a real increase of 2.1 percent. Of this total, the per-capita net cash income was 1,640 yuan, a real increase of 4 percent. Residents' housing conditions continued to improve. The year 2000 saw completion of 510 million square meters of dwelling structures in urban areas and 850 million square meters in rural areas. The objectives set in the State plan aiming at helping 80 million people get out of poverty in seven years by the end of the century was basically fulfilled.

Social security system was further consolidated and improved. At the end of 2000, a total of 104.08 million staff and workers participated in the unemployment insurance program, and each month, 1.37 million people received their unemployment insurance allowances. Some 103.67 million employees and 31.73 million retirees participated in the basic old-age insurance program, and 43.32 million staff and workers participated in the basic medical insurance program.

Social welfare work continued to develop. At the end of 2000, the social welfare institutions nationwide had 1.12 million beds, which had taken in 843,000 people. A total of 201,000 community service facilities were established in urban areas, including 8,101 community service centers. A minimum living standard guarantee system had been established in all cities and towns, with 7.01 million urban and rural residents receiving the minimum living guarantee relief. In 2000, social welfare lottery tickets worth 6.89 billion yuan were sold, raising 1.43 billion yuan in social welfare funds, and 3.27 billion yuan was received in the form of donations from society.