The Pandemic Stalls Growth in the Global Middle Class, Pushes Poverty Up Sharply
The global middle class consisted of 54 million fewer people in 2020 than the number projected prior to the onset of the pandemic.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
The global middle class consisted of 54 million fewer people in 2020 than the number projected prior to the onset of the pandemic.
17% of the global population could be considered middle income in 2020. Most people were either low income (51%) or poor (10%).
17% of the global population could be considered middle income in 2020. Most people were either low income (51%) or poor (10%).
The course of the pandemic in India and China will have a substantial effect on changes in the distribution of income at the global level.
The American middle class is smaller than middle classes across Western Europe, but its income is higher.
As part of a new study, Pew Research Center designed income calculators to help you determine where you fit on the income ladder in Western Europe.
On a global scale, the vast majority of Americans are either upper-middle income or high income. And many Americans who are classified as “poor” by the U.S. government would be middle income globally.
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