YEREVAN. – The pension plans have the greatest impact on poverty level, Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan told news reporters on Thursday.

In his words, solely due to the insufficient level of pensions, poverty is increasing by 5.5 percent in Armenia.

That is why, as per the minister, the government has decided to increase the pensions, and therefore about 25,000 people will receive pensions that are above the poverty line.

According to Asatryan—and in line with the 2011 data—, the poverty level was 35 percent in Armenia, and the respective 2012 data will be issued soon.