Beijing residents live well-off life: survey
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-02-19 13:45

With the Engel's coefficient dropping to 31.8 percent, Beijing citizens are currently living a well-off life rather than a mere food-and-cloth sufficient one, according to a survey made by the Beijing municipal statistical bureau and the National Statistics Bureau's Beijing Office.

According to the survey, the Engel's coefficient, or the proportion of citizens' income that goes into food, went down by 4.5 percent during the past five years, indicating that the life quality of the locals has improved to a considerable extent.

In line with the standards set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, if the coefficient falls between 30 and 40 percent, it shows that the people are living a well-to-do life.

An official who took part in the survey said this coefficient basically reflects the economic development of Beijing today.

Last year, the per capita GDP of Beijing residents surpassed 5,000 U.S. dollars and the per captia consumption payout amounted to 13,244.2 yuan (1,656 U.S. dollars).

Some experts say that the Engel's coefficient in some developed countries remains at around 20 percent, suggesting that Beijing still has a long way to go.