Most Russians work for hire

Approximately 95 percent of Russia's able-bodied population /about 84 million people/ employed in the economy work for hire, Russian State Statistics Committee chairman Vadim Sokolin told a Tuesday press conference devoted to the first results of the 2002 population census.

To him, 1.5 percent of the Russians are employers and approximately 3 percent are individual entrepreneurs.

Sixty-two million people cite work incomes as the source of means of subsistence, Sokolin said. For 18.3 million people the main source of means of subsistence is their subsidiary plots of land.

About 300,000 people said their savings and securities revenues are the main source of income. Revenues from hired or leased property are the source of subsistence for 200,000 people.

Approximately 58.5 million people live on scholarships, old-age pensions, length-of-service payments or state security, Sokolin said. 4.7 million people get disability pensions and 1.2 million people get unemployment benefits.

According to the 2002 census, one third of the population /43.5 million people/ are dependants. Most of the dependants /over 80 percent/ are children and young people under 25 years of age, said the head of the State Statistics Committee.