Prosperity gap in China
China: Prosperity gap was 2.4 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Prosperity gap in China, 1981–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, prosperity gap in China stood at 2.4.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prosperity gap in China peaked at 27.49 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 2.38, in 2021.
China ranks 65th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prosperity gap in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 27.49 | — |
| 1984 | 20.36 | -25.9% |
| 1987 | 17.47 | -14.2% |
| 1990 | 18.03 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 16.51 | -8.5% |
| 1996 | 13.01 | -21.2% |
| 1999 | 12.81 | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 11.05 | -13.7% |
| 2005 | 8.28 | -25.1% |
| 2008 | 7.25 | -12.4% |
| 2010 | 6.31 | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 5.66 | -10.2% |
| 2012 | 5.2 | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 4.2 | -19.2% |
| 2014 | 3.87 | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 3.55 | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 3.32 | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 3.18 | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 2.95 | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 2.74 | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 2.75 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 2.38 | -13.3% |
| 2022 | 2.4 | +0.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2.4 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.67, 90% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- China's 2.4 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.77 | 17.47 | 27.49 | 3 |
| 1990s | 15.09 | 12.81 | 18.03 | 4 |
| 2000s | 8.86 | 7.25 | 11.05 | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.1 | 2.74 | 6.31 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.51 | 2.38 | 2.75 | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prosperity gap in China?
- Prosperity gap in China was 2.4 in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prosperity gap recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 27.49 in 1981.
- What is the lowest prosperity gap recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.38 in 2021.
- How does China rank for prosperity gap?
- China ranks 65th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prosperity gap rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Prosperity gap. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average factor by which incomes need to be multiplied to bring everyone to the prosperity standard of $28 per person per day.