In 2024, the average annual per capita disposable income of households in China amounted to approximately 41,300 yuan. Annual per capita income in Chinese saw a significant rise over the last decades and is still rising at a high pace. During the last ten years, per capita disposable income roughly doubled in China. Income distribution in China As an emerging economy, China faces a large number of development challenges, one of the most pressing issues being income inequality. The income gap between rural and urban areas has been stirring social unrest in China and poses a serious threat to the dogma of a “harmonious society” proclaimed by the communist party. In contrast to the disposable income of urban households, which reached around 54,200 yuan in 2024, that of rural households only amounted to around 23,100 yuan. Coinciding with the urban-rural income gap, income disparities between coastal and western regions in China have become apparent. As of 2023, households in Shanghai and Beijing displayed the highest average annual income of around 84,800 and 81,900 yuan respectively, followed by Zhejiang province with 63,800 yuan. Gansu, a province located in the West of China, had the lowest average annual per capita household income in China with merely 25,000 yuan. Income inequality in China The Gini coefficient is the most commonly used measure of income inequality. For China, the official Gini coefficient also indicates the astonishing inequality of income distribution in the country. Although the Gini coefficient has dropped from its high in 2008 at 49.1 points, it still ranged at a score of 46.5 points in 2023. The United Nations have set an index value of 40 as a warning level for serious inequality in a society.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents the mean household income for each of the five quintiles in China, Maine, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The dataset highlights the variation in mean household income across quintiles, offering valuable insights into income distribution and inequality.

Key observations

• Income disparities: The mean income of the lowest quintile (20% of households with the lowest income) is 21,283, while the mean income for the highest quintile (20% of households with the highest income) is 236,557. This indicates that the top earners earn 11 times compared to the lowest earners.
• *Top 5%: * The mean household income for the wealthiest population (top 5%) is 401,757, which is 169.84% higher compared to the highest quintile, and 1887.69% higher compared to the lowest quintile.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Income Levels:

• Lowest Quintile
• Second Quintile
• Third Quintile
• Fourth Quintile
• Highest Quintile
• Top 5 Percent

Variables / Data Columns

• Income Level: This column showcases the income levels (As mentioned above).
• Mean Household Income: Mean household income, in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars for the specific income level.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China town median household income. You can refer the same here

Disposable Personal Income in China increased to 54188 CNY in 2024 from 51821 CNY in 2023. This dataset provides - China Disposable Income per Capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Disposable Income per Capita: Low Income data was reported at 9,542.000 RMB in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 9,215.000 RMB for 2023. Disposable Income per Capita: Low Income data is updated yearly, averaging 6,910.430 RMB from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2024, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,542.000 RMB in 2024 and a record low of 4,402.435 RMB in 2013. Disposable Income per Capita: Low Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income by Income Level.

As of January 2022, the largest share of Chinese middle-class families had an annual income of between 100 thousand and 300 thousand yuan per year. According to the same survey, almost 90 percent of respondents have at least one child. Many middle-class families in China face significant financial burdens because not only do living costs continuously increase but they also often have to support their parents. In that case, one family has to care for four elders and least one kid.

The annual per capita disposable income of households in China varies greatly in different geographic regions of the country. In 2023, the disposable annual income of residents in Eastern China reached around 49,800 yuan.

Disposable Income per Capita: Middle Income data was reported at 33,925.000 RMB in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 32,195.000 RMB for 2023. Disposable Income per Capita: Middle Income data is updated yearly, averaging 24,111.810 RMB from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2024, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33,925.000 RMB in 2024 and a record low of 15,697.999 RMB in 2013. Disposable Income per Capita: Middle Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income by Income Level.

This statistic shows the annual per capita disposable income in urban China in 2023, by income quintile. In a middle income household in China, per capita disposable income amounted to approximately 46,276 yuan in 2023.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the China median household income by race. The dataset can be utilized to understand the racial distribution of China income.

Content

The dataset will have the following datasets when applicable

Please note: The 2020 1-Year ACS estimates data was not reported by the Census Bureau due to the impact on survey collection and analysis caused by COVID-19. Consequently, median household income data for 2020 is unavailable for large cities (population 65,000 and above).

• China, TX median household income breakdown by race betwen 2011 and 2021
• Median Household Income by Racial Categories in China, TX (2021, in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars)

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Interested in deeper insights and visual analysis?

Explore our comprehensive data analysis and visual representations for a deeper understanding of China median household income by race. You can refer the same here

Wages in China increased to 120698 CNY/Year in 2023 from 114029 CNY/Year in 2022. This dataset provides - China Average Yearly Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Households Debt in China increased to 99.90 % of gross income in 2018 from 93.40 % in 2017. This dataset provides - China Households Debt To Income- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Disposable Income per Capita: Urban: Middle Income data was reported at 48,508.000 RMB in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 46,276.000 RMB for 2023. Disposable Income per Capita: Urban: Middle Income data is updated yearly, averaging 8,678.295 RMB from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2024, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48,508.000 RMB in 2024 and a record low of 737.280 RMB in 1985. Disposable Income per Capita: Urban: Middle Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income by Income Level. Since 2013, All households in the sample are grouped, by per capita disposable income of the household, into groups of low income, lower middle income, middle income, upper middle income, and high income, each group consisting of 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%, and 20% of all households respectively.

Income share held by highest 20% in China was reported at 43.6 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Income share held by highest 20% - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This statistic shows the average annual disposable income per capita of households in China in 2023, by region. In 2023, disposable per capita income in Gansu province amounted to approximately 25,000 yuan.

Income share held by highest 10% in China was reported at 28.2 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Income share held by highest 10% - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

Income share held by second 20% in China was reported at 11.4 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Income share held by second 20% - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

China: Income from natural resources, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2021 is 1.71 percent, an increase from 0.86 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 6.83 percent, based on data from 186 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1970 to 2021 is 5.67 percent. The minimum value, 0.77 percent, was reached in 1971 while the maximum of 19.74 percent was recorded in 1980.

This statistic shows the inequality of income distribution in China from 2005 to 2023 based on the Gini Index. In 2023, China reached a score of 46.5 (0.465) points. The Gini Index is a statistical measure that is used to represent unequal distributions, e.g. income distribution. It can take any value between 1 and 100 points (or 0 and 1). The closer the value is to 100 the greater is the inequality. 40 or 0.4 is the warning level set by the United Nations. The Gini Index for South Korea had ranged at about 0.32 in 2022. Income distribution in China The Gini coefficient is used to measure the income inequality of a country. The United States, the World Bank, the US Central Intelligence Agency, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development all provide their own measurement of the Gini coefficient, varying in data collection and survey methods. According to the United Nations Development Programme, countries with the largest income inequality based on the Gini index are mainly located in Africa and Latin America, with South Africa displaying the world's highest value in 2022. The world's most equal countries, on the contrary, are situated mostly in Europe. The United States' Gini for household income has increased by around ten percent since 1990, to 0.47 in 2023. Development of inequality in China Growing inequality counts as one of the biggest social, economic, and political challenges to many countries, especially emerging markets. Over the last 20 years, China has become one of the world's largest economies. As parts of the society have become more and more affluent, the country's Gini coefficient has also grown sharply over the last decades. As shown by the graph at hand, China's Gini coefficient ranged at a level higher than the warning line for increasing risk of social unrest over the last decade. However, the situation has slightly improved since 2008, when the Gini coefficient had reached the highest value of recent times.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the median household income in China. It can be utilized to understand the trend in median household income and to analyze the income distribution in China by household type, size, and across various income brackets.

Content

The dataset will have the following datasets when applicable

Please note: The 2020 1-Year ACS estimates data was not reported by the Census Bureau due to the impact on survey collection and analysis caused by COVID-19. Consequently, median household income data for 2020 is unavailable for large cities (population 65,000 and above).

• China, TX Median Household Income Trends (2010-2021, in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars)
• Median Household Income Variation by Family Size in China, TX: Comparative analysis across 7 household sizes
• Income Distribution by Quintile: Mean Household Income in China, TX
• China, TX households by income brackets: family, non-family, and total, in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Interested in deeper insights and visual analysis?

Explore our comprehensive data analysis and visual representations for a deeper understanding of China median household income. You can refer the same here

The Personal Income Tax Rate in China stands at 45 percent. This dataset provides - China Personal Income Tax Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.