Where does that income sit globally?
Almost everyone in a rich country is in the global top 10%, and almost nobody realises it.
88% of a global 95th percentile
30,000 USD, PPP is more than 5 of the 7 references on this page.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| global extreme poverty line | 800 USD, PPP | 37.5× | $2.15 a day |
| global median income | 3,000 USD, PPP | 10× | |
| global 70th percentile | 6,000 USD, PPP | 5× | |
| global 80th percentile | 10,000 USD, PPP | 3× | |
| global 90th percentile | 21,000 USD, PPP | 1.43× | |
| global 95th percentile | 34,000 USD, PPP | 0.882× | |
| global 99th percentile | 100,000 USD, PPP | 0.3× |
Worth knowing
- The global median income is about $3 000 a year at purchasing-power parity. A median UK or US salary is in the global top 5%.
- Extreme poverty has fallen from 38% of the world in 1990 to under 9% today, the largest reduction in human history.
Frequently asked
What income puts you in the global 1%?
Roughly $100 000 a year per person at purchasing-power parity — a figure many people in rich countries reach without considering themselves wealthy.
What is purchasing-power parity?
An exchange rate adjusted so the same basket of goods costs the same everywhere. It is the only fair way to compare incomes across countries.
How to read this
Figures are approximate, in 2017 PPP dollars per person, and vary by source.