BEIJING - China's central government has allocated 2.5 billion yuan ($387.8 million) as basic living allowances for orphans this year, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Monday.

Orphans in China's less developed western regions will receive 4,800 yuan this year, up 480 yuan from 2010. Orphans in central areas will receive 3,600 yuan while those in eastern provinces will get 2,400 yuan - both figures are up by more than 10 percent year-on-year.

Xu Jianzhong, an official with the ministry's social welfare and charity bureau, said on Monday the move was based on research on living conditions of the country's orphans, taking into account rises of the inflation data and per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents last year.

Local governments have also increased financial assistance to orphans. Twenty-seven provinces have raised their minimum subsistence allowances, with 1,000 yuan each month for children in orphanages and 600 yuan for those living with relatives.

Census data by the ministry shows that China had about 655,000 orphans at the end of 2010.