Income share held by highest 20% in India
India: Income share held by highest 20% was 34.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Income share held by highest 20% in India, 1977–2023
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 2023, income share held by highest 20% in India stood at 34.2%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in India peaked at 39.1% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 34.2%, in 2023.
India ranks 122nd of 123 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Income share held by highest 20% in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 39.1% | — |
| 1983 | 37.0% | -5.4% |
| 1987 | 37.6% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 36.6% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 38.1% | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 38.1% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 38.8% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 36.1% | -7.0% |
| 2023 | 34.2% | -5.3% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 34.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.1%, 79% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- India's 34.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 39.0%, 88% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 39.1% | 39.1% | 39.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 37.3% | 37.0% | 37.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 36.6% | 36.6% | 36.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 38.1% | 38.1% | 38.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.8% | 38.8% | 38.8% | 1 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 34.2% | 36.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More poverty & inequality data for India
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 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 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,632 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.8468 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.32 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.3% (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 India?
- Income share held by highest 20% in India was 34.2% in 2023, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 39.1% in 1977.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.2% in 2023.
- How does India rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- India ranks 122nd out of 123 countries with data for 2023.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.