As of 2024, the top 1% in Bahamas earned 21.97% of total national income, while the bottom 50% received just 10.11%. Bahamas’s income inequality has remained relatively stable since 1980, when the top 1% share was 22.27%.
Key Income Distribution Metrics for Bahamas in 2024
In 2024, income in Bahamas was distributed as follows: the wealthiest 1% of the population captured 21.97% of total national income, which is notably higher than the global average of 16.17%. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners received 10.11% of income, notably lower than the global average of 14.97%.
| Metric | Bahamas | Global Average |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% Income Share | 21.97% | 16.17% |
| Top 10% Income Share | 52.12% | 45.21% |
| Bottom 50% Income Share | 10.11% | 14.97% |
How Has Income Inequality Changed in Bahamas?
Top 1% Income Share Trend (1980-2024)
The share of income going to Bahamas’s top 1% has remained relatively stable over the past 44 years. In 1980, the top 1% captured 22.27% of national income. By 2024, this figure had fallen by 0.30 percentage points to 21.97%.
Top 10% vs Bottom 50% Income Gap Over Time
The income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% in Bahamas has narrowed over this period. In 1980, the top 10% earned 55.41% while the bottom 50% received 8.39%. By 2024, these figures shifted to 52.12% and 10.11% respectively.
| Year | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% | Gap (Top 10 – Bottom 50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% | 47.02 pp |
| 1986 | 22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% | 47.02 pp |
| 1992 | 22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% | 47.02 pp |
| 1998 | 22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% | 47.02 pp |
| 2004 | 24.14% | 55.88% | 8.72% | 47.16 pp |
| 2010 | 23.78% | 54.55% | 9.47% | 45.08 pp |
| 2016 | 23.45% | 52.95% | 10.28% | 42.67 pp |
| 2022 | 21.99% | 52.14% | 10.14% | 42.00 pp |
How Bahamas Compares Globally
Bahamas vs North America Average
Compared to other countries in North America, Bahamas’s top 1% income share of 21.97% is slightly higher than the regional average of 20.66%. The bottom 50% in Bahamas receives 10.11% of income, compared to the North America average of 11.73%.
Where Bahamas Ranks Among All Countries
- Top 1% income concentration: Bahamas ranks 23rd out of 184 countries (higher rank = more concentrated wealth at the top)
- Bottom 50% income share: Bahamas ranks 157th out of 184 countries (higher rank = larger share for the bottom half)
Countries with similar income inequality levels to Bahamas include Belize's income inequality, Bolivia's income inequality, Guatemala's income inequality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income share of the top 1% in Bahamas?
As of 2024, the top 1% in Bahamas earned 21.97% of total national income. This level of concentration is considered very high by international standards.
Is income inequality increasing or decreasing in Bahamas?
Income inequality in Bahamas has remained relatively stable since 1980. The top 1% income share moved from 22.27% in 1980 to 21.97% in 2024.
What percentage of income goes to the bottom 50% in Bahamas?
In 2024, the bottom 50% of earners in Bahamas received 10.11% of total national income. This compares with the top 10% who captured 52.12%.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.