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Median Income By Country

Median Income By Country

The Dynamics of Global Income

In an ever-evolving global economy, understanding the distribution of median income across countries can shed light on economic opportunities, standard of living and purchasing power. The term "Median Income" refers to the income amount that divides a nation's income distribution into two equal groups – half having income above that amount, and the other half having income below that amount. It's a valuable indicator of a country's economic health and wealth distribution.

Luxembourg enjoys the highest median income globally, followed by United Arab Emirates and Norway. Conversely, DR Congo and Madagascar have some of the lowest median incomes, highlighting vast disparities between nations. The United States ranks within the top five, evidencing its relatively high standard of living.

Examining the data further, we derive the following key findings:

  • Despite significant disparities between countries, we see that highly developed nations typically have higher median incomes. For instance, Luxembourg, classified as a high-income nation by World Bank, reports a robust median income of $26,321. 
  • The United States, with a median income of $19,306, stands at the fifth position globally. This underscores the nation's powerful economy, marked by diverse income opportunities and a high standard of living. 
  • On the other end of the spectrum, the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world's poorest nations, reports the lowest median income at a mere $395.
  • Median income isn't necessarily correlated with a country's population size. For instance, despite its small population, Luxembourg boasts the highest median income, whereas larger countries like India and China don't feature in the top twenty.
  • Countries boasting high median income often have strong social security systems and lower levels of income inequality, traits common in many European and North American Nations. 

While these insights paint a rough outline of world economies, remember that the global economic tapestry is interwoven with numerous socioeconomic factors, each contributing to a nation's median income status.

Countries With Highest Median Income

The ten countries with the highest median income are Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates, Norway, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, and Netherlands. Luxembourg tops the list with the highest median income, amounting to $26,321 annually. The United Arab Emirates comes next with a median income of $24,292 annually. The third on the list is Norway with a median income of $22,684, closely followed by Switzerland with $21,490. 

The United States is the fifth highest country on the list, with its citizens earning a median income of $19,306 per year. In Canada, the median income is slightly lower, at $18,652 and Austria follows with a median income of $18,405. Sweden, on the other hand, has a median income of $17,625 annually. 

Finally, rounding out the top ten are Denmark and Netherlands with median incomes of $17,432 and $17,154 respectively. 

10 Countries with the Highest Median Income:

  1. Luxembourg - $26,321 
  2. United Arab Emirates - $24,292 
  3. Norway - $22,684
  4. Switzerland - $21,490
  5. United States - $19,306 
  6. Canada - $18,652 
  7. Austria - $18,405
  8. Sweden - $17,625 
  9. Denmark - $17,432 
  10. Netherlands - $17,154 

Countries With Lowest Median Income

The ten countries with the lowest median income are DR Congo, Madagascar, Burundi, Malawi, Guinea-Bissau, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Zambia, Uzbekistan, and Rwanda. DR Congo reports the lowest median income with $395 per year. Madagascar, slightly above DR Congo, has a median income of $398 per year. Burundi is next with a median income of $475 per year. Malawi follows closely behind with a median income of $484 while Guinea-Bissau reports a median income of $486 per year.

The Central African Republic has a yearly median income of $491. On the other hand, Mozambique has a median income of $529 per year. Zambia and Uzbekistan report slightly higher yearly median incomes of $545 and $591, respectively. Completing the list, Rwanda has a yearly median income of $621.

The ten countries with the lowest median income:

  1. DR Congo - $395
  2. Madagascar - $398
  3. Burundi - $475
  4. Malawi - $484
  5. Guinea-Bissau - $486
  6. Central African Republic - $491
  7. Mozambique - $529
  8. Zambia - $545
  9. Uzbekistan - $591
  10. Rwanda - $621

By Country

Full Data Set

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