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International
World Bank Finds India's Richest 10% Earn Less Than Poorest 10% in Rich Countries
✍️ NDTV
🗓 12 Oct 2026, 10:37 AM
👁 22
A World Bank analysis shows that the lowest‑earning 10% in developed nations earn more than the top 10% in India.
The World Bank’s latest report reveals a striking disparity in global income distribution: the bottom 10% of earners in high‑income countries earn more than the top 10% of Indians. The analysis, based on cross‑country household surveys, compares median annual incomes across income brackets.
According to the data, the poorest quintile in affluent nations earns roughly 1.5 times the income of India’s richest quintile. The report attributes the gap to higher wages, stronger social safety nets, and more robust economic growth in developed economies.
The findings underscore the widening income inequality within India and highlight the need for targeted fiscal and social policies. World Bank officials suggest that reforms aimed at boosting productivity and expanding access to quality education could help narrow the gap.
While the study focuses on broad income trends, it also calls for deeper investigations into regional variations and the impact of recent economic shocks on household earnings.
According to the data, the poorest quintile in affluent nations earns roughly 1.5 times the income of India’s richest quintile. The report attributes the gap to higher wages, stronger social safety nets, and more robust economic growth in developed economies.
The findings underscore the widening income inequality within India and highlight the need for targeted fiscal and social policies. World Bank officials suggest that reforms aimed at boosting productivity and expanding access to quality education could help narrow the gap.
While the study focuses on broad income trends, it also calls for deeper investigations into regional variations and the impact of recent economic shocks on household earnings.