Methodology

RankMyIncome estimates where an annual pre-tax income sits within a national and worldwide income distribution using WID.world data. The current production dataset covers 208 countries and territories, with the worldwide reference distribution based on 2024 data.

Income concept

RankMyIncome uses WID.world pre-tax national-income threshold series tptincj992 and tptinc992j as accepted aliases in the source data. These series describe pre-tax national income for adults aged 20 and over using the equal-split-adult population concept. This statistical concept is broader than salary alone, so a result should be treated as an estimate rather than an exact wage ranking.

The reference unit is an individual adult with income split equally between adult partners, not a household total. Pre-tax national income includes more than employee wages; these are not take-home salary estimates.

Country percentile

The calculator compares the annual income entered in a country's local currency with that country's WID threshold points. Between published threshold points, RankMyIncome uses logarithmic interpolation because income distributions are highly skewed.

Worldwide percentile

For the worldwide comparison, local income is converted to a common USD purchasing-power-parity unit using the WID.world PPP conversion series xlcusp999i or its source alias xlcuspi999. The converted amount is then compared with the WID WO-PPP worldwide pre-tax-income threshold distribution.

Values outside published thresholds

If an income is below the lowest published threshold, RankMyIncome estimates the lower tail toward percentile zero. If an income is above the highest available WID threshold, the calculator extrapolates from the final two available threshold points on a logarithmic scale.

A very small top-percent result is not automatically extrapolated. When WID publishes threshold points covering that range, RankMyIncome interpolates between those published points. Only results beyond the highest available threshold use upper-tail extrapolation, and uncertainty increases the farther a value lies beyond the published range.

Tier system

The tier names are created by RankMyIncome for presentation and entertainment and are not official statistical classifications. Challenger begins at the top 0.1%, Grandmaster at the top 1%, Master at the top 5%, Diamond at the top 10%, Emerald at the top 15%, Platinum at the top 25%, Gold at the top 40%, Silver at the top 60%, Bronze at the top 80%, and Iron below that.

Data coverage and years

The production dataset currently includes 208 countries and territories. The worldwide reference year is 2024. A country's latest usable distribution year or PPP year can differ from the worldwide reference year, and RankMyIncome uses the relevant country-specific years rather than assuming every country uses 2024 data.

Income targets and country comparisons

Target income is the inverse of the same percentile calculation used by the main calculator. Worldwide targets are converted back into the selected country's local currency using the same WID PPP factor. Displayed targets are rounded up to a whole currency unit; monthly equivalents divide the unrounded annual threshold by 12 and are not net pay.

The comparison table answers a different question: how much local income reaches the same percentile in another country? It uses each country's own distribution and currency, not a market exchange rate or a cost-of-living forecast. The first row uses your current national rank, followed by the top 50%, 10% and 1% benchmarks. Related-country links are chosen by similar median income in WID purchasing-power units.

Data source

Statistical data come from WID.world. For definitions and methodology, see the WID Codes Dictionary and WID Methodology.

See Data Sources for the shipped snapshot, source variables, transformation steps and reuse limitations.

Limitations

Income-distribution estimates can vary with source coverage, tax data, surveys, national accounts, interpolation, extrapolation, population definitions, and reference years. RankMyIncome is intended for approximate comparison and informational use only. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice.

Independence

RankMyIncome is an independent calculator and is not operated by or endorsed by WID.world or any statistical provider.