Child poverty has dropped by 70-80 percent since 2015 thanks to the government's 500+ programme of benefits for families, according to the Polish family ministry's estimates.

According to Poland's Central Statistical Office, child poverty fell by 40 percent since 2017.

The family ministry said that the benefits had also seen a hike in the birth rate, with 20,000 more children born in 2017 than in 2016, when the programme was introduced.

Under the programme, the government gives PLN 500 a month for each child in low-income families, and for second and next children in all other families.

The 500+ programme was among a number of ambitious spending promises made by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party ahead of elections in late 2015 in which it swept to power. (vb/pk)

Source: IAR