Income share held by highest 20% in China
China: Income share held by highest 20% was 43.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Income share held by highest 20% in China, 1981–2022
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
The most recent figure for income share held by highest 20% in China is 43.7%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in China peaked at 49.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 36.1%, in 1984.
China ranks 46th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Income share held by highest 20% in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 37.2% | — |
| 1984 | 36.1% | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 37.5% | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 40.8% | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 42.2% | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 42.9% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 45.6% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 47.9% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 47.1% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 48.4% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 49.0% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 47.7% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 46.3% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 45.7% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 45.3% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 45.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 45.8% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 45.4% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 45.3% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 44.7% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 43.6% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 43.7% | +0.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 43.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.5%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- China's 43.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 43.1%, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 36.9% | 36.1% | 37.5% | 3 |
| 1990s | 42.9% | 40.8% | 45.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 47.1% | 48.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 46.4% | 45.3% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.0% | 43.6% | 44.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
- 43 Madagascar 44.7% compare
- 44 Mali 43.9% compare
- 44 Senegal 43.9% compare
- 47 Israel 43.5% compare
- 48 Cote d'Ivoire 43.3% compare
- 48 Iran 43.3% compare
- 48 Tajikistan 43.3% compare
More poverty & inequality data for China
- 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 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 6,418 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 0.5767 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 22.1 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 22.1% (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 China?
- Income share held by highest 20% in China was 43.7% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 49.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.1% in 1984.
- How does China rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- China ranks 46th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.