A total of 21.825 million Chinese urban residents were registered as recipients of the minimum living allowance during the first eight months of this year, down slightly from last year, the first drop since 2001, figures from the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed.

The payment of the subsidy across China totaled 9.51 billion yuan (US$1.15 billion) for the eight months period, about 55 yuan (US$6.7) per capita each month, according to the ministry.

Monthly allowances for urban residents living under the poverty line varies significantly by region.

Five regions were listed as offering the biggest monthly sums in China, namely Beijing (233 yuan per person), Shanghai (139 yuan), east China's provinces of Zhejiang (113 yuan) and Jiangsu (81 yuan), and southwest China's Chongqing Municipality (74 yuan).

Shanxi Province in north China, Henan Province in central China, Hunan Province in central-south China, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Hebei Province in north China were listed as regions offering the smallest allowances, ranging from 36 yuan to 43 yuan.

(China Daily September 26, 2003)