TEHRAN Some 15% of the Iranian population lived under the absolute poverty line in 2000, showing a 3% decrease compared to the 1997 statistics, Management and Planning Organization (MPO) announced on 7 September 2001.

MPO further reported that the country's social security system covered about 59.3% and 66.2% of the country's total population in 1997 and 2000 respectively.

The percentage of population covered by health insurance services covering the country's total population increased from 88% in 1997 to 95.3% in 2000.

Meanwhile, the percentage of families supported by private and governmental state bodies and supportive relief organizations showed a 3% increase in the year 2000 compared to the year 1997.

(Courtesy of Iran Finance)