Income share held by highest 20% in China

China: Income share held by highest 20% was 43.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
43.7%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
46th
of 121 countries
All-time high
49.0%
in 2010
All-time low
36.1%
in 1984
Years of data
23
1981–2022

Income share held by highest 20% in China, 1981–2022

010203040501981200120221981: 37.21984: 36.11987: 37.51990: 40.81993: 42.21996: 42.91999: 45.62002: 47.92005: 47.12008: 48.42010: 492011: 48.12012: 47.82013: 46.32014: 45.82015: 45.42016: 45.32017: 45.92018: 45.42019: 45.32020: 44.72021: 43.62022: 43.7

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 8.6% 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 121 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 43 Madagascar 44.7% compare
  2. 44 Mali 43.9% compare
  3. 44 Senegal 43.9% compare
  4. 47 Israel 43.5% compare
  5. 48 Cote d'Ivoire 43.3% compare
  6. 48 Iran 43.3% compare
  7. 48 Tajikistan 43.3% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More poverty & inequality data for China

All data for China →

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 121 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 8.6%. 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
Income share held by highest 20%
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
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,305 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

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.