According to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, by the end of 2012, there were close to 100 million farmers in the rural regions who lived in poverty. Their average income was only 58 percent of national median income. Some in the rural regions do not have electricity, they are not accessible, and they have drinking water safety issues.
Source: China.com, September 13, 2013
http://local.china.com.cn/2013-09/13/content_30017448.htm