As of 2024, the top 1% in Belarus earned 9.61% of total national income, while the bottom 50% received just 22.58%. Belarus’s income inequality has increased since 1980, when the top 1% share was 4.06%.
Key Income Distribution Metrics for Belarus in 2024
In 2024, income in Belarus was distributed as follows: the wealthiest 1% of the population captured 9.61% of total national income, which is notably lower than the global average of 16.17%. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners received 22.58% of income, significantly higher than the global average of 14.97%.
| Metric | Belarus | Global Average |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% Income Share | 9.61% | 16.17% |
| Top 10% Income Share | 32.77% | 45.21% |
| Bottom 50% Income Share | 22.58% | 14.97% |
How Has Income Inequality Changed in Belarus?
Top 1% Income Share Trend (1980-2024)
The share of income going to Belarus’s top 1% has increased over the past 44 years. In 1980, the top 1% captured 4.06% of national income. By 2024, this figure had risen by 5.55 percentage points to 9.61%.
Top 10% vs Bottom 50% Income Gap Over Time
The income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% in Belarus has widened over this period. In 1980, the top 10% earned 24.72% while the bottom 50% received 27.73%. By 2024, these figures shifted to 32.77% and 22.58% respectively.
| Year | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% | Gap (Top 10 – Bottom 50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.06% | 24.72% | 27.73% | -3.01 pp |
| 1986 | 5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% | -2.93 pp |
| 1992 | 8.24% | 27.85% | 26.34% | 1.51 pp |
| 1998 | 12.95% | 37.81% | 18.56% | 19.25 pp |
| 2004 | 10.00% | 33.51% | 21.34% | 12.17 pp |
| 2010 | 10.00% | 34.47% | 20.80% | 13.67 pp |
| 2016 | 9.54% | 32.56% | 22.77% | 9.79 pp |
| 2022 | 9.61% | 32.77% | 22.58% | 10.19 pp |
How Belarus Compares Globally
Belarus vs Europe Average
Compared to other countries in Europe, Belarus’s top 1% income share of 9.61% is slightly lower than the regional average of 10.86%. The bottom 50% in Belarus receives 22.58% of income, compared to the Europe average of 20.10%.
Where Belarus Ranks Among All Countries
- Top 1% income concentration: Belarus ranks 165th out of 184 countries (higher rank = more concentrated wealth at the top)
- Bottom 50% income share: Belarus ranks 10th out of 184 countries (higher rank = larger share for the bottom half)
Countries with similar income inequality levels to Belarus include income distribution in Croatia, income distribution in Kosovo, income distribution in Norway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income share of the top 1% in Belarus?
As of 2024, the top 1% in Belarus earned 9.61% of total national income. This level of concentration is considered relatively low by international standards.
Is income inequality increasing or decreasing in Belarus?
Income inequality in Belarus has increased since 1980. The top 1% income share moved from 4.06% in 1980 to 9.61% in 2024.
What percentage of income goes to the bottom 50% in Belarus?
In 2024, the bottom 50% of earners in Belarus received 22.58% of total national income. This compares with the top 10% who captured 32.77%.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.