(ECNS) -- The Engel's coefficient, which measures the proportion of income spent on food, fell to 30.1 percent last year in China, closer to the international standard for a wealthy country, said Ning Jizhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Ning, also vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference that China "has no problem to realize the growth target of 6.5 percent this year or even perform better."
Ning said people's livelihoods have improved significantly since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012. China's per capita disposable income stood at 23,821 yuan (3,469 U.S. dollars) in 2016, up 7,311 yuan over 2012, an annual rise of 7.4 percent in real terms.
He said the Engel's coefficient for the country was 30.1 percent in 2016, a decline of 2.9 percentage points from 2012. Spending on telecommunications, education, culture and health all took a larger proportion than five years ago.
According to the measure set by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, an Engel's Coefficient of 20-30 percent indicates a "wealthy" life.
Ning also said China's efforts to eradicate poverty also boosted the income of rural farmers in underdeveloped regions.
