How much does each person earn on average? We use per capita measures to give us a guide to this. Income per capita is a way of measuring the standard of living for the inhabitants of a country.

Gross National Income per capita = Gross National Income / Total Population

Real per capita incomes, measured in US dollars, for a selection of countries

Country Name	2000	2005	2011	Country Name	2000	2005	2011
Qatar	64829	69512	77987	Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)	940	1051	1244
Luxembourg	61061	68320	68459	Low income	797	941	1190
Singapore	38063	45374	53591	Burkina Faso	853	1014	1149
Kuwait	38359	48783	47935	Nepal	903	954	1102
Norway	43975	47626	46982	Guinea-Bissau	1146	1017	1097
Hong Kong SAR, China	29785	35678	43844	Rwanda	661	840	1097
United States	39545	42516	42486	Haiti	1137	1023	1034
Canada	32447	35033	35716	Mozambique	501	670	861
Ireland	33424	38896	35640	Madagascar	904	869	853
Sweden	29145	32703	35048	Malawi	667	645	805
Australia	29663	32719	34548	Sierra Leone	424	647	769
Germany	30298	31115	34437	Central African Republic	766	672	716
High income: OECD	30419	32821	33726	Niger	597	610	642
High income	30004	32450	33533	Eritrea	576	596	516
Belgium	30398	32189	33127	Liberia	344	346	506
United Kingdom	29056	32738	32474	Congo, Dem. Rep.	260	277	329

Economics of a Growing Middle Class

A key feature of many faster-growing, lower-income countries is the emergence of a significant middle class of consumers. There is no single definition of the income level needed to be included in this category.

Middle class population in millions

	2010	2015 (Forecast)
China (i)	172	314
India (i)	186	366
Russia (ii)	91	123
Indonesia (i)	48	103
Brazil (ii)	48	69

• Middle-class households are those with an annual income > US $ 5,000
• Middle-class households are those with an annual income > US $ 10,000

The Brookings Institution in the United States estimates that there are 1.8 billion worldwide in the middle class, which will grow to 3.2 billion by the end of the decade

The huge rise in the number of people calculated as having a middle-class income will be a major factor shaping growth and development in these countries in the years ahead. As per capita incomes rise, so too does the demand for consumer staple products, lifestyle products and financial services. Luxury product demand too will see abnormally high growth rates.

This represents an enormous opportunity for multinationals who have built up global brands. For example:

• 40% of Apple's revenues come from Asia Pacific and Japan
• 50% of the revenues for the Swatch group flow from Asian consumer markets
• Nearly 30% of the revenues for Kraft Foods are generated in developing markets

Nominal GDP capita for the richest twenty countries in the world

Find more statistics at Statista

Variations in GNI per capita (PPP adjusted) for selected countries