Updated country income classifications for the World Bank’s 2020 fiscal year are available here.
The World Bank classifies the world's economies into four income groups — high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low. We base this assignment on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (current US$) calculated using the Atlas method. The classification is updated each year on July 1st.
The classification of countries is determined by two factors:
- A country’s GNI per capita, which can change with economic growth, inflation, exchange rates, and population. Revisions to national accounts methods and data can also influence GNI per capita.
- Classification threshold: The thresholds are adjusted for inflation annually using the SDR deflator.
New data on GNI per capita data for 2018 is now available here. More detailed information on how the World Bank classifies countries is available here.
Until last year (Fiscal Year 2019), the income classifications had an analytical purpose and did not influence the World Bank’s lending terms. However, since the last fiscal year, the high-income threshold is also a determining factor for lending rates. Surcharges are applied for lending rates of countries which have been categorized as high income for two consecutive years.
Updated Thresholds
New thresholds are determined at the start of the World Bank’s fiscal year in July and remain fixed for 12 months regardless of subsequent revisions to estimates. The thresholds for income classification have increased from last year due to SDR inflation. As of July 1, 2019, the new thresholds for classification by income are:
|
Threshold |
July 2019/$ (new) |
July 2018/$ (old) |
|
Low income |
< 1,025 |
< 995 |
|
Lower-middle income |
1,026 - 3,995 |
996 - 3,895 |
|
Upper-middle income |
3,996 - 12,375 |
3,896 - 12,055 |
|
High income |
> 12,375 |
> 12,055 |
Changes in Classification
The following countries are assigned to new income groups:
|
|
New group |
Old group |
GNI/Capita/$ (2018) as of July 1, 2019 |
GNI/Capita/$ (2017) as of July 1, 2018 |
|
Comoros |
Lower-middle income |
Low income |
1,320 |
760 |
|
Georgia |
Upper-middle income |
Lower-middle income |
4,130 |
3,790 |
|
Kosovo |
Upper-middle income |
Lower-middle income |
4,230 |
3,890 |
|
Senegal |
Lower-middle income |
Low income |
1,410 |
950 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Upper-middle income |
Lower-middle income |
4,060 |
3,840 |
|
Zimbabwe |
Lower-middle income |
Low income |
1,790 |
910 |
|
Argentina |
Upper-middle income |
High income |
12,370 |
13,040 |
The country and lending groups page provides a complete list of economies classified by income, region, and lending status and links to previous years’ classifications. The classification tables include all World Bank members, plus all other economies with populations of more than 30,000. The term country, used interchangeably with economy, does not imply political independence but refers to any territory for which authorities report separate social or economic statistics.
Data for GNI, GNI per capita, GDP, GDP PPP, and Population for 2018 are now available on World Bank's Open Data Catalog. Note that these are preliminary estimates and may be revised. For more information, please contact us at data@worldbank.org.
I am an international development professional working in several regions and countries interested in cities
How does a country without electricity for 19 hrs, no adequate fuel, does not have its own stable currency, infested with corruption, unable to print passport be in lower-middle income?
Perhaps that is why it is in Lower-Middle income, otherwise it would be in upper-middle income
What does it means then to coutry in lower middle income?
I would like to be receiving every update from WB reports.
I didn't see Tanzania in the list above,and I want to know its growth rate.
For a complete list of countries, please go to https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-…
I am from Rwanda and my pleasure is to see my country moving on to the next level
World bank reports are the authentic and prepared through depth analysis. So, are considered important documents.
Excellent
This is useful information.
I have reservations on the upgrading of Zimbabwe from a low income to lower- middle income status as from 1 July 2019. The situation on the ground is that production has gone down due to the unavailability of foreign currency to import critical raw materials, new machinery to retool and the unpredictable economic operating environment. The current unavailability of electricity have further worsened the situation. The Zimbabwean market is mainly dominated by foreign products mainly from South Africa. Zimbabwe has been reduced to a retail outlet of South African products. Most of the products labelled 'made in Zimbabwe'' are only repackaged in Zimbabwe after being imported in bulk such as cooking oil, washing soaps and other basic commodities. The standard of living of the general populace is worsening as compared to 2014 and 2015. The question most Zimbabweans are asking is ,'What factors did you consider to upgrade Zimbabwe?. Most of the companies are retrenching due to high cost of production or suppressed demand. The currency reforms without adequate economic fundamentals in place has also caused distortions in the market. I think the data you are using in making upgrades Zimbabwe need to be looked into to determine its reliability and its adequacy.
Dear WB team,
I'd like to understand the change of classification regarding Comoros. When I look at the GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US $), I've found a value of US $ 1,320 in 2018 as mentioned. However, the value is US $ 1,280 in 2017 while you have put a value of US $ 760. Could you explain me why is there difference between the value here and the actual GNI per capita dataset? Or please, is it possible to have the dataset you used for the classification?
Kinds,
Mouksit
Thank you for asking. Please contact our Help Desk team here: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/
As an economic graduate and an Indian journalist, I am very much interested in WB reports
What is the current status of india i.e. is it developed?? Or under development?? Or it has some other status?
Please why has the figures decreasing every year instead of increasing
I will share it for others.i am interested because I want to know about progress in Pakistan economy.
What about east African countries their income categorical level, especially Somalia?
I am asking for country reports for Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria,Cameroon,South Africa Namibia and Kenya
Regard
Abdul
I am looking for an excel sheet showing the historical classification of countries by income, after 2005. The webpage "The WB and Lending Groups" (https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519) provides this classification for the period 1990-2005 only; but I would need similar data over the period 2005-now (2019). is it available anywhere on the WB website ? if yes, could you send me the link to the webpage, and, crucially, tell me which link I should click on that webpage to downoad it ? many thanks.
Hi Rémi,
For your concern, please reach out to the World Bank Data helpdesk team: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/
Am Elton Kamugisha from Tanzania I want to see my country growth update.
Population is the key source for classification, which way would WB observe the accurate population of a specific country?eg Somalia which does not made a census for more than three decade?
Teaching economics in a 'lower-middle-income' country now, and sharing experiences of being a citizen of a high-income-country from one of the poorest countries before.
What is the GNI range for so-called LMIC?