Income share held by highest 20% in Canada
Canada: Income share held by highest 20% was 39.5% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Income share held by highest 20% in Canada, 1971–2022
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
Analysis
In 2022, income share held by highest 20% in Canada stood at 39.5%.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in Canada peaked at 43.4% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 38.5%, in 2020.
Canada ranks 89th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Income share held by highest 20% in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 43.4% | — |
| 1973 | 41.5% | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 40.9% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 40.5% | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 40.4% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 40.1% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 40.3% | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 40.6% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 40.4% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 39.2% | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 39.3% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 38.9% | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 38.7% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 38.9% | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 39.3% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 39.1% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 39.1% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 39.0% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 39.1% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 40.2% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 40.6% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 40.7% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 40.4% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 40.7% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 40.9% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 40.8% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 41.0% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 41.0% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 40.9% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 41.3% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 41.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 41.2% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 41.2% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 40.9% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 40.2% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 40.6% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 40.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 40.4% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 40.9% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 40.2% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 40.6% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 39.4% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 38.5% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 39.4% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 39.5% | +0.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 39.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 39.9%, 99% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 41.3% | 40.4% | 43.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | 39.7% | 38.7% | 40.6% | 8 |
| 1990s | 39.6% | 38.9% | 40.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.0% | 40.7% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.4% | 39.4% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.1% | 38.5% | 39.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More poverty & inequality data for Canada
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 7 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.35 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,695 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -9.41 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.78 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share held by highest 20% in Canada?
- Income share held by highest 20% in Canada was 39.5% in 2022, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 43.4% in 1971.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.5% in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- Canada ranks 89th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Income share held by highest 20%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.