Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in China
China: Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank was 12.6% in 2015. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in China, 1980–2015
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in China is 12.6%, measured in 2015.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in China peaked at 14.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 1980.
That places China 61st out of 109 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.7% | — |
| 1981 | 7.0% | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 7.2% | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 7.4% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 7.7% | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 8.3% | +7.6% |
| 1986 | 8.2% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 8.1% | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 8.3% | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 8.5% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 8.3% | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 8.6% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 9.0% | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 9.5% | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 9.7% | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 9.4% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 9.8% | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 9.9% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 10.3% | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 10.3% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 10.6% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 10.5% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 12.1% | +14.6% |
| 2003 | 12.8% | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 13.7% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 14.0% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 14.5% | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 14.4% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 14.6% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 14.4% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 13.7% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 12.7% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 12.5% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | +0.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 12.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.1%, 84% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- China's 12.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 14.7%, 86% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.7% | 6.7% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 8.3% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.1% | 10.5% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.1% | 12.5% | 14.4% | 6 |
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 income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in China?
- Income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in China was 12.6% in 2015, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 1980.
- How does China rank for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank?
- China ranks 61st out of 109 countries with data for 2015.
- Is income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured after taxes and benefits.