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Fewer people affected by poverty

The number of people in Switzerland living below the poverty line has been decreasing over the past three years according to a survey.

The Federal Statistics Office said about 586,000 people – or 7.8 per cent of the total population – did not have enough money to buy food and take part in social life in 2010.

This compares with 9.1 per cent of the Swiss population in 2008.

The office says the drop is a result of the improved situation on the job market.

Most of the poor are single parents and elderly people.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR