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World Bank high-income economy

Income classification for countries

A high-income economy is defined by the World Bank as a country with a gross national income per capita of US$13,935 or more in 2024, calculated using the Atlas method. While the term "high-income" is often used interchangeably with "First World" and "developed country", the technical definitions of these terms differ. The term "first world" commonly refers to countries that aligned themselves with the U.S. and NATO during the Cold War. Several institutions, such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or International Monetary Fund (IMF), take factors other than high per capita income into account when classifying countries as "developed" or "advanced economies". According to the United Nations, for example, some high-income countries may also be developing countries. The GCC countries, for example, are classified as developing high-income countries. Thus, a high-income country may be classified as either developed or developing. Although Vatican City is a sovereign state, it is not classified by the World Bank under this definition.

A map of World Bank high-income economies, as of 2023

List of high-income economies (for 2026 fiscal year)

According to the World Bank the following 87 countries (including territories) are classified as "high-income economies". In brackets are the year(s) during which they held such classification; classifying began in 1987. As of the 2026 fiscal year, high-income economies are those that had a GNI per capita of $13,935 or more in 2024.

High income UN members

Andorra (1990–present)
Antigua and Barbuda (2002, 2005–08, 2012–present)
Australia (1987–present)
Austria (1987–present)
The Bahamas (1987–present)
Bahrain (1987–89, 2001–present)
Barbados (1989, 2000, 2002, 2006–present)
Belgium (1987–present)
Brunei (1987, 1990–present)
Bulgaria (2023–present)
Canada (1987–present)
Chile (2012–present)
Costa Rica (2024–present)
Croatia (2008–15, 2017–present)
Cyprus (1988–present)
Czech Republic (2006–present)
Denmark (1987–present)
Estonia (2006–present)
Finland (1987–present)
France (1987–present)
Germany (1987–present)
Greece (1996–present)
Guyana (2022–present)
Hungary (2007–11, 2014–present)
Iceland (1987–present)
Ireland (1987–present)
Israel (1987–present)
Italy (1987–present)
Japan (1987–present)
Kuwait (1987–present)
Latvia (2009, 2012–present)
Liechtenstein (1994–present)
Lithuania (2012–present)
Luxembourg (1987–present)
Malta (1989, 1998, 2000, 2002–present)
Monaco (1994–present)
Nauru (2015, 2019–present)
Netherlands (1987–present)
New Zealand (1987–present)
Norway (1987–present)
Oman (2007–present)
Palau (2016–20, 2023–present)
Panama (2017–19, 2021–present)
Poland (2009–present)
Portugal (1994–present)
Qatar (1987–present)
Romania (2019, 2021–present)
Russia (2012–14, 2023–present)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (2011–present)
San Marino (1991–93, 2000–present)
Saudi Arabia (1987–89, 2004–present)
Seychelles (2014–present)
Singapore (1987–present)
Slovakia (2007–present)
Slovenia (1997–present)
South Korea (1995–97, 2001–present)
Spain (1987–present)
Sweden (1987–present)
Switzerland (1987–present)
Trinidad and Tobago (2006–present)
United Arab Emirates (1987–present)
United Kingdom (1987–present)
United States (1987–present)
Uruguay (2012–present)

High income non-UN members

American Samoa (1987–89, 2022–present)
Aruba (1987–90, 1994–present)
Bermuda (1987–present)
British Virgin Islands (2015–present)
Cayman Islands (1993–present)
Guernsey / Jersey Channel Islands (1987–present)
Curaçao (1994–present)a
Faroe Islands (1987–present)
French Polynesia (1990–present)
Gibraltar (2009–10, 2015–present)
Greenland (1987–present)
Guam (1987–89, 1995–present)
Hong Kong (1987–present)
Isle of Man (1987–89, 2002–present)
Macau (1994–present)
New Caledonia (1995–present)
Northern Mariana Islands (1995–2001, 2007–present)
Puerto Rico (1989, 2002–present)
Saint Martin (2010–present)
Sint Maarten (1994–present)a
Taiwan (1987–present)
Turks and Caicos Islands (2009–present)
U.S. Virgin Islands (1987–present)

Former high-income economies

The year(s) during which they held such classification is/are shown in parentheses.

Argentina (2014, 2017)
Equatorial Guinea (2007–14)
Mauritius (2019)
Mayotte (1990)
Netherlands Antilles (1994–2009)b
Venezuela (2014)

a Between 1994 and 2009, as a part of the Netherlands Antilles. b Dissolved on 10 October 2010. Succeeded by Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

Historical thresholds

The high-income threshold was originally set in 1989 at US$6,000 in 1987 prices. Thresholds for subsequent years were adjusted taking into account the average inflation in the G-5 countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and France), and from 2001, that of Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the eurozone. Thus, the thresholds remain constant in real terms over time. To ensure no country falls right on the threshold, country data are rounded to the nearest 10 and income thresholds are rounded to the nearest 5.

The following table shows the high-income threshold from 1987 onwards. Countries with a GNI per capita (calculated using the Atlas method) above this threshold are classified by the World Bank as "high-income economies".

Year	GNI per capita (US$)	Date of
classification
1987	6,000
1988	6,000
1989	6,000
1990	7,620
1991	7,910
1992	8,355
1993	8,625
1994	8,955
1995	9,385
1996	9,645
1997	9,655
1998	9,360
1999	9,265
2000	9,265
2001	9,205
2002	9,075
2003	9,385
2004	10,065
2005	10,725
2006	11,115
2007	11,455
2008	11,905
2009	12,195
2010	12,275
2011	12,475
2012	12,615
2013	12,745
2014	12,735
2015	12,475
2016	12,236
2017	12,056
2018	12,376
2019	12,536
2020	12,696
2021	13,205
2022	13,845
2023	14,005
2024	13,935

References

"UN. (2005). UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics.".
[http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups#High_income Country and Lending Groups.] [[World Bank]]. Accessed on July 1, 2025.
"comparison with the previous fiscal year". World Bank.
[http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20452009~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html The Atlas Method], [[World Bank]].
(2008-06-04). "The Interim Measure for calculating financial contributions: review of cut-off points defining capacity-to-pay groups". Agenda item 4.

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