Codes Dictionary

The present document describes the general structure of the World Inequality Database (WID). It explains how information is organized within it, and how to retrieve and interpret it content.

Section 1 starts by explaining the different ways of accessing the database. Section 2 then explains the general structure of the variables. The other sections describe the different WID codes that exist in the database. Note that this document is mostly dedicated to describing the technical organization of the database. For a more in-depth description of concepts and estimation methods, please refer to the DINA guidelines or our library of papers.

Table of Contents

1. General Presentation

1.1. How to Access the Data on WID.world

Users can take directly take advantage of the graphing capabilities on WID.world to make simple plots. For more advanced analyses, they can download the data and then import it into their preferred statistical software. For two of them (R and Stata), we provide packages to directly access the WID. Overall, we can distinguish four ways of accessing the data on WID.world.

1.1.1. Using the Graphing Tools on the Website

The WID.world website offers several basic graphing capabilities. The “WORLD” section of the website can be used to display the data for all the available countries on a world map, and to plot the same series over time for different countries. The “BY COUNTRY” section of the section can be used to display several series for the same country. In both cases, the variable selection is done via the menu of the left. By default, it suggests a handful of “key indicators” which corresponds to the most common and the most widely available types of indicators requested.

To access other series, choose “more indicators” at the bottom of the menu. This section of the menu is divided into five categories. The two categories “average & total income” and “average & total wealth” refer to macroeconomic aggregates. To select a variable from these categories, click on them, and then choose a concept from the menu that appears. Most concepts can be decomposed into more subconcepts by click on the arrow on their right. The two categories “income inequality” and “wealth inequality” refer to distributed variables. If you choose them, a menu will appear to let you select a concept (top-right corner) and a part of the distribution (or the Gini coefficient). The last category “other indicators” refers to other categories such as prices, exchange rates and populations. Once you have selected a concept, the menu will ask you to specify other characteristics of the series requested (currency, population unit, age group, average/share/aggregate, depending on what is relevant to the context considered).

For country graphs, you can display several series simultaneously, assuming they have the same unit. Buttons on the right of the graph let you share the graph, export it as an image, or export the underlying data. The “?” lets you view the sources and the methodological notes for the data.

1.1.2. Downloading Specific Series

The “DATA” section of the website lets you download series directly. The menu in this section is best suited for downloading a limited number of specific series.

1.1.3. Bulk Download

For user who want to request a large number of series at the same time, we recommend the bulk download options. The button at the bottom-left of the “DATA” section lets user download the entire database at once. Users can also download all of the data relative to a specific country on the country pages.

1.1.4. Packages for Statistical Software (R and Stata)

We have developed two packages to download data from the WID directly from Stata and R. Please refer to the documentation of these packages for more details.

2. General Structure

The precise structure of the WID is mostly of interest to users that download the database in bulk of through the statistical packages in R and Stata.

Every data series in the WID has a WID code (which refers to the concept under consideration), a percentile code (which refers to a specific part of the distribution, if applicable) and a country (or region) code, that refers the area under consideration. Finally, every data point is also associated to a specific year. The WID codes themselves are constructed by combining specific codes for series types, concepts, age groups and population unit.

For example, consider the following:

s ptinc 992 j p99p100 US 1970
share pretax national income adults equal-split top 1% United States year
WID code

This refers to the share of pretax national income among equal-split adults (sptinc992j) for the top 1% (p99p100) in the United States (US) in 1970. The sections below detail the different options available in the WID for constructing variables such as the one above.

2.1. Construction of WID Code

2.1.2. One-letter Code for Series Type

The first letter of the WID code is a one-letter code that determines type of series that you are requesting. In many cases, several series type exist for the same concept. For example, consider the pretax national income of the top 1%: you can request their share of income (s), their average income (a) or their threshold (t). Below is the list of all series types.

1-letter code meaning unit
a average local currency unit, last year’s prices
b inverted Pareto-Lorenz coefficient no unit
f female population fraction (between 0 and 1)
g Gini coefficient Gini coefficient (between 0 and 1)
i index no unit
n population people
s share fraction (between 0 and 1)
t threshold local currency unit, last year’s prices
m total local currency unit, last year’s prices
p proportion of women fraction (between 0 and 1)
w wealth-to-income ratio or labor/capital share fraction of national income
r Top 10/Bottom 50 ratio no unit
x exchange rate (market or PPP) local currency unit per foreign currency
e Total emissions Tons of CO2 equivalent emissions
k Per capita emissions Tons of CO2 equivalent emissions
l Average per capita group emissions Tons of CO2 equivalent per capita emissions

The series type determines its unit, as indicated in the table above. All monetary amounts are in local currency at constant prices for countries and country subregions. Monetary amounts for world regions are in EUR PPP. Series are at last year’s prices (the database is usually updated every year at the end of June). To check the year of reference, look at when the price index is equal to 1. You can access the price index using the variable inyixx999i, the PPP exchange rates using xlcusp999i (USD), xlceup999i (EUR), xlcyup999i (CNY), and the market exchange rates using xlcusx999i (USD), xlceux999i (EUR), xlcyux999i (CNY). Shares and wealth/income ratios are given as a fraction of 1. That is, a top 1% share of 20% is given as 0.2. A wealth/income ratio of 300% is given as 3.

2.1.3. Five-letter Code for Series Concept

The second to the sixth letter of the WID code is a five-letter concept code that determines the concept of the requested series. It is usually an income or wealth concept, but can also correspond to auxiliary concepts such as prices indexes, exchange rates, populations, etc.

Common five-letter codes include nninc (national income), ptinc (pretax income), diinc (post-tax income) or fiinc (fiscal income). But there is a great wealth of five-letter codes in the WID that are described in the next sections.

2.1.4. Three-digit Code for Age Group

The three-digit code in WID codes refer to the population group for the variable is requested. The most common codes are 999 (full population), 992 (adult population, i.e. 20 and older) and 996 (working-age population, i.e. from 20 to 65). The full list of population codes is given in the table below.

For aggregate variables, the age code indicates the population denominator for averages. For example, anninc999i refers to national income per capita, whereas anninc992i refers to national income per adult. For distributed variables, the age code refers to the population group receiving the income. For example, sptinc992j refers to the share of pretax income of a that accrues to a given percentile of the adult population, while flinc996i refers to shares of labor income that accrue to a given percentile of the working-age population. For variables to which age groups do not apply (e.g. prices indexes, exchange rates), we use the age code 999 (full population).

age code description
999 The population is comprised of individuals of all ages.
991 The population is comprised of individuals below age 20.
992 The population is comprised of individuals over age 20.
993 The population is comprised of individuals between ages 20 and 39.
994 The population is comprised of individuals between ages 40 and 59.
995 The population is comprised of individuals over age 60.
996 The population is comprised of individuals between ages 20 and 64.
997 The population is comprised of individuals over age 65.
998 The population is comprised of individuals over age 80.
201 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 20 to 24 age group.
251 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 25 to 29 age group.
301 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 30 to 34 age group.
351 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 35 to 39 age group.
401 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 40 to 44 age group.
451 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 45 to 49 age group.
501 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 50 to 54 age group.
551 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 55 to 59 age group.
601 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 60 to 64 age group.
651 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 65 to 69 age group.
701 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 70 to 74 age group.
751 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 75 to 79 age group.
801 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 80 to 84 age group.
851 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 85 to 89 age group.
901 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 90 to 94 age group.
951 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 95 to 99 age group.
111 The population is comprised of individuals over age 99.
001 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 0 to 4 age group.
051 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 5 to 9 age group.
101 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 10 to 14 age group.
151 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 15 to 19 age group.
202 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 20 to 29 age group.
302 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 30 to 39 age group.
402 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 40 to 49 age group.
502 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 50 to 59 age group.
602 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 60 to 69 age group.
702 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 70 to 79 age group.
802 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 80 to 89 age group.
902 The population is comprised of individuals of in the 90 to 99 age group.

2.1.5. One-letter Code for Population Unit

The last letter of the WID code determines the population unit of the variable. The most commons are “i” (for individuals), “j” (for equal-split) and “t” (for tax units, i.e. households). The full list is given below.

Differences of population units only matter for distributed series. For aggregate series (or prices, exchange rates and population series) we use the letter “i” (for individuals) by default. For distributed series, “i” means that the unit is the individual, and that income or wealth is distributed to each specific individual; “j” means that the unit is the individual, but that income or wealth is distributed equally among all household members; “t” means that the tax unit (i.e. the household) is taken directly as the statistical unit.

unit code description
i individuals
j equal-split adults
m male
f female
t tax unit
e employed

2.2. Country Codes

The two-letter country codes used in WID mostly follow the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard. The list has however been amended to include world regions, country subregions, former countries and countries not officially included in the standard. The full list, including the composition of regions, is indicated below.

Regions within country XX are indicated as XX-YY, where YY is the region code. World regions are indicated as XX and XX-MER, the first one using purchasing power parities (the default) and the second one using market exchange rates.

The classification of regions on WID.world are standard, continental, sub-regions, political and other. The choice of this classification depends on historical, political and economic criteria and on the availability of data for each country. The standard definition is what is currently presented for the region map on WID.world. However, different categorization is also available to display the data produced by researchers and cover the wide interests of users. Some countries were grouped together to track the evolution of inequality since 1820, presented in Chancel & Piketty (2021).

For the full cross-classification of regions and country codes by year, please refer to this file.

Note: Middle East and North Africa will be written as MENA.

Country Codes

WID code country name region (standard) region (continental) sub-region region (political) region (other)
AD Andorra Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
AE United Arab Emirates MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
AF Afghanistan South & South-East Asia Asia South Asia Other South & South-East Asia
AG Antigua and Barbuda Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
AI Anguilla Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
AL Albania Europe Europe Eastern Europe
AM Armenia Russia & Central Asia Asia West Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
AN Netherlands Antilles Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
AO Angola Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
AR Argentina Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
AS American Samoa North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
AT Austria Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
AU Australia North America & Oceania Oceania Australia and New Zealand
AW Aruba Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
AZ Azerbaijan Russia & Central Asia Asia West Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
BA Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe Europe Eastern Europe
BB Barbados Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
BD Bangladesh South & South-East Asia Asia Southern Asia Other South & South-East Asia
BE Belgium Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
BF Burkina Faso Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
BG Bulgaria Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
BH Bahrain MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
BI Burundi Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
BJ Benin Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Western Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
BM Bermuda North America & Oceania Americas North America
BN Brunei Darussalam South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
BO Bolivia Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
BR Brazil Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
BS Bahamas Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
BT Bhutan South & South-East Asia Asia South Asia Other South & South-East Asia
BW Botswana Sub-Saharan Africa Africa South Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
BY Belarus Russia & Central Asia Asia Western Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
BZ Belize Latin America Americas Central America Other Latin America
CA Canada North America & Oceania Americas North America
CD DR Congo Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
CF Central African Republic Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
CG Congo Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
CH Switzerland Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
CI Cote d’Ivoire Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
CK Cook Islands North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
CL Chile Latin America Americas South America
CM Cameroon Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
CN China East Asia Asia East Asia
CO Colombia Latin America Americas South America
CR Costa Rica Latin America Americas Central America Other Latin America
CS Czechoslovakia Europe Eastern Europe
CU Cuba Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
CV Cabo Verde Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
CW Curacao Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
CY Cyprus Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
CZ Czech Republic Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
DD German Democratic Republic Europe Europe Western Europe
DE Germany Europe Europe Western Europe European Union
DJ Djibouti Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
DK Denmark Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
DM Dominica Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
DO Dominican Republic Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
DZ Algeria MENA Africa North Africa
EC Ecuador Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
EE Estonia Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
EG Egypt MENA Africa North Africa
EH Western Sahara MENA Africa North Africa Other MENA
ER Eritrea Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
ES Spain Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
ET Ethiopia Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
FI Finland Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
FJ Fiji North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
FK Falkland Islands Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
FM Micronesia North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
FO Faroe Islands Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
FR France Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
GA Gabon Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
GB United Kingdom Europe Europe Western Europe European Union
GD Grenada Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
GE Georgia Russia & Central Asia Asia West Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
GH Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
GI Gibraltar Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
GL Greenland North America & Oceania Americas North America
GM Gambia Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
GN Guinea Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
GQ Equatorial Guinea Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
GR Greece Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
GT Guatemala Latin America Americas Central America Other Latin America
GU Guam North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
GW Guinea-Bissau Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
GY Guyana Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
HK Hong Kong East Asia Asia East Asia Other East Asia
HN Honduras Latin America Americas Central America Other Latin America
HR Croatia Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
HT Haiti Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
HU Hungary Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
ID Indonesia South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia
IE Ireland Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
IL Israel MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
IM Isle of Man Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
IN India South & South-East Asia Asia South Asia
IQ Iraq MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
IR Iran MENA Asia South Asia Other MENA
IS Iceland Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
IT Italy Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
JM Jamaica Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
JO Jordan MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
JP Japan East Asia Asia East Asia
KE Kenya Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
KG Kyrgyzstan Russia & Central Asia Asia Central Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
KH Cambodia South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
KI Kiribati North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
KM Comoros Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
KN Saint Kitts and Nevis Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
KP North Korea East Asia Asia East Asia Other East Asia
KR Korea East Asia Asia East Asia
KV Kosovo Europe Europe Eastern Europe
KW Kuwait MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
KY Cayman Islands Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
KZ Kazakhstan Russia & Central Asia Asia Central Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
LA Lao PDR South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
LB Lebanon MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
LC Saint Lucia Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
LI Liechtenstein Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
LK Sri Lanka South & South-East Asia Asia South Asia Other South & South-East Asia
LR Liberia Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Western Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
LS Lesotho Sub-Saharan Africa Africa South Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
LT Lithuania Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
LU Luxembourg Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
LV Latvia Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
LY Libya MENA Africa North Africa Other MENA
MA Morocco MENA Africa North Africa Other MENA
MC Monaco Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
MD Moldova Europe Europe Eastern Europe
ME Montenegro Europe Europe Eastern Europe
MG Madagascar Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
MH Marshall Islands North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
MK North Macedonia Europe Europe Eastern Europe
ML Mali Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Western Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
MM Myanmar South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
MN Mongolia East Asia Asia East Asia Other East Asia
MO Macao East Asia Asia East Asia Other East Asia
MP Northern Mariana Islands North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
MR Mauritania Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
MS Montserrat Europe Americas Caribbean European Union Other Western Europe
MT Malta Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
MU Mauritius Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
MV Maldives South & South-East Asia Asia South Asia Other South & South-East Asia
MW Malawi Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
MX Mexico Latin America Americas Central America
MY Malaysia South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
MZ Mozambique Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
NA Namibia Sub-Saharan Africa Africa South Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
NC New Caledonia North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
NE Niger Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
NG Nigeria Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
NI Nicaragua Latin America Americas Central America Other Latin America
NL Netherlands Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
NO Norway Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
NP Nepal South & South-East Asia Asia South Asia Other South & South-East Asia
NR Nauru North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
NU Niue North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
NZ New Zealand North America & Oceania Oceania Australia and New Zealand Other North America & Oceania
OM Oman MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
PA Panama Latin America Americas Central America Other Latin America
PE Peru Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
PF French Polynesia North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
PG Papua New Guinea North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
PH Philippines South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
PK Pakistan South & South-East Asia Asia South Asia Other South & South-East Asia
PL Poland Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
PM Saint Pierre and Miquelon North America & Oceania Americas North America Other North America & Oceania
PR Puerto Rico Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
PS Palestine MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
PT Portugal Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
PW Palau North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
PY Paraguay Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
QA Qatar MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
RO Romania Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
RS Serbia Europe Europe Eastern Europe
RU Russian Federation Russia & Central Asia Asia West Asia
RW Rwanda Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SA Saudi Arabia MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
SB Solomon Islands North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
SC Seychelles Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SD Sudan Sub-Saharan Africa Africa North Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SE Sweden Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
SG Singapore South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
SH Saint Helena Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SI Slovenia Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
SK Slovakia Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
SL Sierra Leone Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SM San Marino Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
SN Senegal Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SO Somalia Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SR Suriname Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
SS South Sudan Sub-Saharan Africa Africa North Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
ST Sao Tome and Principe Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
SU USSR Asia West Asia
SV El Salvador Latin America Americas Central America Other Latin America
SX Sint Maarten (Dutch part) Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
SY Syrian Arab Republic MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
SZ Swaziland Sub-Saharan Africa Africa South Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
TC Turks and Caicos Islands Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
TD Chad Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Middle Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
TG Togo Sub-Saharan Africa Africa West Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
TH Thailand South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
TJ Tajikistan Russia & Central Asia Asia Central Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
TK Tokelau North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
TL Timor-Leste South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
TM Turkmenistan Russia & Central Asia Asia Central Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
TN Tunisia MENA Africa North Africa Other MENA
TO Tonga North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
TR Turkey MENA Asia West Asia
TT Trinidad and Tobago Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
TV Tuvalu North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
TW Taiwan East Asia Asia East Asia Other East Asia
TZ Tanzania Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
UA Ukraine Russia & Central Asia Asia West Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
UG Uganda Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
US USA North America & Oceania Americas North America
UY Uruguay Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
UZ Uzbekistan Russia & Central Asia Asia Central Asia Other Russia & Central Asia
VA Holy See Europe Europe Western Europe Other Western Europe
VC Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
VE Venezuela Latin America Americas South America Other Latin America
VG Virgin Islands, British Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
VI Virgin Islands, US Latin America Americas Caribbean Other Latin America
VN Viet Nam South & South-East Asia Asia South-East Asia Other South & South-East Asia
VU Vanuatu North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
WF Wallis and Futuna North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
WS Samoa North America & Oceania Oceania Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) Other North America & Oceania
XI Channel Islands Europe Europe Western Europe European Union Other Western Europe
YE Yemen MENA Asia West Asia Other MENA
YU Yugoslavia Europe Europe Eastern Europe European Union
ZA South Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Africa South Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
ZM Zambia Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
ZW Zimbabwe Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa
ZZ Zanzibar Sub-Saharan Africa Africa East Africa Other Sub-Saharan Africa

Country Subregions Codes

WID code region name
CN-RU Rural China
CN-UR Urban China
DE-BD Baden
DE-BY Bavaria
DE-HB Bremen
DE-HE Hesse
DE-HH Hamburg
DE-PR Prussia
DE-SN Saxony
DE-WU Wurttemberg
US-AK Alaska
US-AL Alabama
US-AR Arkansas
US-AZ Arizona
US-CA California
US-CO Colorado
US-CT Connecticut
US-DC District of Columbia
US-DE Delaware
US-FL Florida
US-GA Georgia
US-HI Hawaii
US-IA Iowa
US-ID Idaho
US-IL Illinois
US-IN Indiana
US-KS Kansas
US-KY Kentucky
US-LA Louisiana
US-MA Massachusetts
US-MD Maryland
US-ME Maine
US-MI Michigan
US-MN Minnesota
US-MO Missouri
US-MS Mississippi
US-MT Montana
US-NC North Carolina
US-ND North Dakota
US-NE Nebraska
US-NH New Hampshire
US-NJ New Jersey
US-NM New Mexico
US-NV Nevada
US-NY New York
US-OH Ohio
US-OK Oklahoma
US-OR Oregon
US-PA Pennsylvania
US-RI Rhode Island
US-SC South Carolina
US-SD South Dakota
US-TN Tennessee
US-TX Texas
US-UT Utah
US-VA Virginia
US-VT Vermont
US-WA Washington
US-WI Wisconsin
US-WV West Virginia
US-WY Wyoming

World Regions Codes (Purchasing Power Parity)

WID code region name
QB Africa
QC Americas
QD Asia
QE Europe
QF Oceania
QG Australia and New Zealand
QH Caribbean
QI Central America
QJ Central Asia
QK East Africa
QL East Asia
QM Eastern Europe
QN Middle Africa
QO North Africa
QP North America
QQ Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand)
QR South America
QS South-East Asia
QT South Africa
QU South Asia
QV West Africa
QW West Asia
QX Western Europe
QY European Union
WO World
XA Asia (excl. Middle East)
XB North America and Oceania
XF Sub-Saharan Africa
XL Latin America
XM Middle East
XN MENA (Middle East and North Africa)
XR Russia and Central Asia
XS South & South-East Asia
OA Other Russia and Central Asia
OB Other East Asia
OC Other Western Europe
OD Other Latin America
OE Other MENA
OH Other North America and Oceania
OI Other South & South-East Asia
OJ Other Sub-Saharan Africa

World Regions Codes (Market Exchange Rates)

WID code region name
QB-MER Africa (at market exchange rate)
QC-MER Americas (at market exchange rate)
QD-MER Asia (at market exchange rate)
QE-MER Europe (at market exchange rate)
QF-MER Oceania (at market exchange rate)
QG-MER Australia and New Zealand (at market exchange rate)
QH-MER Caribbean (at market exchange rate)
QI-MER Central America (at market exchange rate)
QJ-MER Central Asia (at market exchange rate)
QK-MER East Africa (at market exchange rate)
QL-MER East Asia (at market exchange rate)
QM-MER Eastern Europe (at market exchange rate)
QN-MER Middle Africa (at market exchange rate)
QO-MER North Africa (at market exchange rate)
QP-MER North America (at market exchange rate)
QQ-MER Oceania (excl. Australia and New Zealand) (at market exchange rate)
QR-MER South America (at market exchange rate)
QS-MER South-East Asia (at market exchange rate)
QT-MER South Africa (at market exchange rate)
QU-MER South Asia (at market exchange rate)
QV-MER West Africa (at market exchange rate)
QW-MER West Asia (at market exchange rate)
QX-MER Western Europe (at market exchange rate)
QY-MER European Union (at market exchange rate)
WO-MER World (at market exchange rate)
XA-MER Asia (excl. Middle East) (at market exchange rate)
XB-MER North America and Oceania (at market exchange rate)
XF-MER Sub-Saharan Africa (at market exchange rate)
XL-MER Latin America (at market exchange rate)
XM-MER Middle East (at market exchange rate)
XN-MER MENA (at market exchange rate)
XR-MER Russia and Central Asia (at market exchange rate)
XS-MER South & South-East Asia (at market exchange rate)
OA-MER Other Russia and Central Asia (at market exchange rate)
OB-MER Other East Asia (at market exchange rate)
OC-MER Other Western Europe (at market exchange rate)
OD-MER Other Latin America (at market exchange rate)
OE-MER Other MENA (at market exchange rate)
OH-MER Other North America and Oceania (at market exchange rate)
OI-MER Other South & South-East Asia (at market exchange rate)
OJ-MER Other Sub-Saharan Africa (at market exchange rate)

2.3. Percentile Codes

Some of the data in WID.world refers to specific parts of the distribution. That is, we rank people according to their income or wealth, group them according to their rank, and report statistics on these different groups. They are coded pXpY, where X and Y are both numbers between 0 and 100. X correspond to the percentile for the lower bound of the group, and Y to the percentile for the upper bound (hence X < Y).

WID.world defines the following groups:

Key Groups
They are the most widely used. They include p0p100, p0p50, p50p90, p90p99, p99p100,99p100, p99.99p100, in addition to all deciles (p0p10, p10p20, p20p30, … , p90p100). For example, p0p50 refers to the bottom 50% of the population, and p99p100 to the top 1%.
Detailed Percentile Groups
They are narrow groups that cover the whole distribution. They include all percentiles (p0p1, p1p2, …, p98p99, p99p100), but also tenths of a percentile in the top 1% (1, p99.1p99.2, p99.2p99.3, …, p99.8p99.9, p99.9p100), hundreds of a percentile in the top 0.1% (p99.9p99.91, p99.92p99.93, …, p99.98p99.99, p99.99p100), and thousands of a percentile in the top 0.01% (p99.99p99.991, p99.992p99.993, … , p99.998p99.999, p99.999p100). For example p99.5p100 correspond to the top 0.5% of the population.
Detailed Top Groups
They also cover the whole distribution but refer to the entire population above a percentile. They take the form p0p100, p1p100, p2p100, …

Some population groups can belong to several of the above categories (for example p99p100 is in all three). When that happens, the group appears only once in the data.

The population group p0p100 refers to the entire distribution and is used for aggregate series for which there is no distribution available, and for economic series with no individual meaning such as price indices and exchange rates.

For all these population groups, we provide:

Wealth or Income Share
These correspond to the income or wealth of the group, divided by the total for the whole population. For example, the income of the group p99p100 is the top 1% income share.
Wealth or Income Averages
These correspond to the average wealth or income of the people in the group. For example, the wealth average of the group p90p99 is the average income of the top 10% excluding the top 1%.
Wealth or Income Thresholds
they correspond to the minimum level of income or wealth that gets you into a group. For example, the income threshold of the group p90p100 is the income of the poorest individuals in the top 10%. By definition, it is equal to the income threshold of the groups p90p99 or p90p91.
Inverted Pareto Coefficient
For all top groups, we also provide the inverted Pareto coefficient. It is the ratio of the group average over the group threshold. They are a measure of the fatness of the tail of the distribution of income or wealth. See Thomas Blanchet, Juliette Fournier and Thomas Piketty, “Generalized Pareto Curves: Theory and Applications” (2017) for details.

Beware that people are not always ranked with respect to the quantity that the variable measures. That is true in particular for subcomponents of income or wealth. For example, a variable for “capital income” may rank individuals according to their total income (hence p99p100 would refer to the capital income of the top 1% of both labor and capital income earners), or it may rank them according to their capital income (hence p99p100 would refer to the capital income of the top 1% of capital income earners). The description of the variable specifies which ranking is used.

3. Aggregate Income Variables

The WID contains a fairly complete decomposition of national income into various subcomponents, mostly following principles of the UN SNA. These different aggregates have their specific five-letter codes, which are described below. Their cover the sequence of accounts from primary incomes (i.e. income before direct taxes and transfers) to consumption and savings.

This section presents these five-letter codes in the different decompositions of national incomes into components and subcomponents. Whenever possible, we indicate the corresponding UN SNA codes that correspond to each concept.

3.1. Net National Income, GDP, Foreign Incomes, and Consumption of Fixed Capital

3.1.2. GDP and Net National Income

We start from the relationship between national income and GDP, presented in the table. GDP is a measure of all that is produced in a country over a given year, while national measures the income that accrues to residents. These quantities differ for two reasons. First, some of the domestic production is done by companies that are owned by foreigners, and by foreign workers. Conversely, residents can own foreign companies or work abroad. These flows are recorded under foreign incomes. Second, some of the production must be used to replace the depreciating capital stock, and therefore cannot be used to either consume or accumulate wealth, so it is not “income” in the traditional sense. This flow is recorded as the “consumption of fixed capital.”

GDP and National Income

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
nninc (=) net national income B5n S1
gdpro     (+) gross domestic product B1g S14 + S15
confc     (-) consumption of fixed capital P51c S1
nnfin     (+) foreign income (-) B5n S2

3.1.3. Decomposition of Foreign Income

Foreign incomes can be decomposed between inflows (“received”) and outflows (“paid”), or it can be directly measured net (inflows minus outflows). Then, they can be decomposed between labor incomes (i.e. wages of employees that work in a country different from their country of residence), and capital incomes (i.e. property income generated by foreign assets). They also include a (usually small) component that correspond to taxes and subsidies on production from or to other countries.

Capital incomes may be further decomposed between foreign direct investment (i.e. ownership with direct control over the operation the company) and portfolio investment (i.e. ownership without direct control). As shown in the tables below, our recording of foreign portfolio investment differs from official statistics for two reasons. First, we estimate an amount of income that goes unrecorded in official statistics because it comes from assets hidden in offshore tax havens. Second, we estimate and include retained earnings from foreign portfolio investment in foreign income flows, which unlike retained earnings from foreign direct investment is not included in net foreign incomes in the UN SNA.

Paid/Received

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
nnfin (=) net foreign income
finrx     (+) foreign income received from the rest of the world
flcir         (+) labor and capital income from the rest of the world D1 + D4 S2
comrx             (+) labor income received from the rest of the world D1 S2
pinrx             (+) capital income received from the rest of the world D4 S2
fdirx                 (+) foreign direct investment income
ptfrx                 (+) portfolio and other income
ptfor                     (+) officially recorded
ptfrr                     (+) reinvested earnings on portfolio investment
ptfhr                     (+) from tax havens
fsubx         (+) subsidies on prod. received from the rest of the world D3 S2
fpsub             (+) subsidies on products D31 S2
fosub             (+) other subsidies on production D39 S2
finpx     (-) foreign income paid to the rest of the world
flcip         (+) labor and capital income paid to the rest of the world
compx             (+) labor income paid to the rest of the world D1 S2
pinpx             (+) capital income paid to the rest of the world D4 S2
fdipx                 (+) foreign direct investment income
ptfpx                 (+) portfolio and other income
ptfop                     (+) officially recorded
ptfrp                     (+) reinvested earnings on portfolio investment
ftaxx         (+) taxes on prod. paid to the rest of the world D2 S2
fptax             (+) taxes on products D21 S2
fotax             (+) other taxes on production D29 S2

Labor/Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
nnfin (=) net foreign income
flcin     (+) net foreign labor and capital income
pinnx         (+) net foreign capital income D4 S2
fdinx             (+) net foreign direct investment income
ptfnx             (+) net portfolio income
ptfon                 (+) officially recorded
ptfrn                 (+) net reinvested earnings on portfolio investment
ptfhr                 (+) received from tax havens
comnx         (+) net foreign labor income D1 S2
taxnx     (+) subsidies less taxes on production and imports D3 – D2 S2
prtxn         (+) subsidies less taxes on products D31 – D21 S2
optxn         (+) other subsidies less taxes on production D39 – D29 S2

3.1.4. Decomposition of National Income between Sectors

We decompose national income between the different institutional sectors. The three main sectors are: households (and non-profits), corporations, and the government. When possible, we also distinguish between households and non-profits, and between financial and non-financial corporations.

In following tables, we consider the decomposition of “primary income” and “secondary income.” Both of them sum up to national income, but primary income refers to the income that accrues to a given sector before the operation of direct taxes and transfers (but after taxes on production), and secondary income to the income after taxes and transfers. (Our concept of “secondary income” differs from the UN SNA concept of disposable income because we do not systematically include other current transfers (D7) in it.)

Primary Income Decomposition

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
nninc (=) net national income B5n S1
prigo     (+) net primary income of the general government B5n S13
prihn     (+) net primary income of households and non-profits B5n S14 + S15
priho         (+) net primary income of households B5n S14
prinp         (+) net primary income of non-profits B5n S15
prico     (+) net primary income of corporations B5n S11 + S12
prinf         (+) net primary income of non-financial corporations B5n S11
prifc         (+) net primary income of financial corporations B5n S12

Secondary Income Decomposition

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
nninc (=) net national income B5n S1
secgo     (+) net secondary income of the general government B6n + D7 S13
sechn     (+) net secondary income of households and non-profits B6n + D7 S14 + S15
secho         (+) net secondary income of households B6n + D7 S14
secnp         (+) net secondary income of non-profits B6n + D7 S15
secco     (+) net secondary income of corporations B6n + D7 S11 + S12
secnf         (+) net secondary income of non-financial corporations B6n + D7 S11
secfc         (+) net secondary income of financial corporations B6n + D7 S12

Several components of each sector’s income must satisfy certain identities across the entire economy. They are presented in the tables below. For example, direct taxes paid by households and corporations must correspond to the total taxes collected by the government, etc.

Decomposition of Property Income between Sectors

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
pinnx (=) net foreign property income (-) D4 S2
prphn     (+) property income of households and NPISH D4 S14 + S15
prpco     (+) property income of corporations D4 S11 + S12
prpgo     (+) property income of the government D4 S13

Decomposition of Direct Taxes on Income and Wealth between Sectors

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
taxgo (=) direct taxes received by the government D5 S13
tiwhn     (+) taxes on income and wealth paid by households D5 S14 + S15
taxco     (+) corporate tax D5 S11 + S12

Decomposition of Social Security Contributions between Sectors

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
sschn (=) social contributions paid by households and NPISH D61 S14 + S15
sscgo     (+) social contributions received by the government D61 S13
sscco     (+) social contributions to private employer social insurance D61 S11 + S12

Decomposition of Social Security Benefits between Sectors

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
ssbhn (=) social benefits received by households and NPISH D61 S14 + S15
ssbgo     (+) social benefits paid by the government D61 S13
ssbco     (+) social benefits from private employer social insurance D61 S11 + S12

We define the saving of a given sector as the difference between its secondary income and its consumption. When summing the savings of the different sectors we arrive at the savings of the total economy.

Decomposition of Net Savings Between Sectors

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
savin (=) net savings of the total economy B8n + D7 S1
savhn     (+) net savings of households and NPISH B8n + D7 S14 + S15
savho         (+) net savings of households B8n + D7 S14
savnp         (+) net savings of NPISH B8n + D7 S15
savco     (+) net savings/secondary income of corporations B8n + D7 S11 + S12
secnf         (+) net savings of non-financial corporations B8n + D7 S11
secfc         (+) net savings of financial corporations B8n + D7 S12
savgo     (+) net savings of the general government B8n + D7 S13

Decomposition of Gross Savings Between Sectors

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
savig (=) gross savings of the total economy B8g + D7 S1
saghn     (+) gross savings of households and NPISH B8g + D7 S14 + S15
sagho         (+) gross savings of households B8g + D7 S14
sagnp         (+) gross savings of NPISH B8g + D7 S15
sagco     (+) gross savings/secondary income of corporations B8g + D7 S11 + S12
segnf         (+) gross savings of non-financial corporations B8g + D7 S11
segfc         (+) gross savings of financial corporations B8g + D7 S12
saggo     (+) gross savings of the general government B8g + D7 S13

Primary income, secondary income and saving may be gross or net depending on whether we account for the consumption of fixed capital of each sector. If we sum the consumption of fixed capital across all sectors we arrive at the consumption of fixed capital of the entire economy.

Net and Gross Variables across Sectors

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
confc (=) consumption of fixed capital of the total economy P51c S1
cfchn     (+) CFC of households and NPISH P51c S14 + S15
cfcho         (+) CFC of households P51c S14
cfcnp         (+) CFC of NPISH P51c S15
cfcco     (+) CFC income of corporations P51c S11 + S12
cfcnf         (+) CFC of non-financial corporations P51c S11
cfcfc         (+) CFC of financial corporations P51c S12
cfcgo     (+) CFC of the general government P51c S13
savin (=) net savings of the total economy B8n + D7 S1
savig     (+) gross savings of the total economy B8g + D7 S1
confc     (-) consumption of fixed capital of the total economy P51c S1

3.1.5. Labor and Capital Share of National Income

We decompose net national income into four components: compensation of employees (pure labor income), pure capital income (net of depreciation), net mixed income (income of self-employed) and production taxes.

We use this decomposition to define a “labor share” and a “capital share” of income. To estimate these shares, we use factor price national income at the denominator (national income minus taxes on products and production) and we consider that mixed income is 70% labor and 30% capital. By construction, our shares of labor and capital income sums up to 100%.

Note that the 70-30 split of mixed income is provided as a convenience, but that the proper treatment of mixed income depends on the research question. Whenever possible, we provide the decomposition of national income into four components: production taxes, pure capital income, pure labor income and mixed income.

Labor of Capital Income

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
nninc (=) net national income B5n S1
comhn     (+) compensation of employees D1 S14 + S15
fkpin     (+) net capital income
prphn         (+) property income distributed to households and NPISH D4 S14 + S15
prpgo         (+) property income distributed to the government D4 S13
nsrhn         (+) net operating surplus of the households and NPISH B2n S14 + S15
prico         (+) net primary income of corporations B5n S11 + S12
nmxho     (+) net mixed income of households B3n S14
ptxgo     (+) taxes on products and production D2 – D3 S13
wlabsh = (compensation of employees + 70% of net mixed income) /
        (net national income ‚Äì taxes on products and production)
wcapsh = (net capital income + 30% of net mixed income) /
        (net national income ‚Äì taxes on products and production)

3.2. Income of Households and NPISH

The UN SNA separately defines the income of households and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH), but in practice many countries only report both sectors jointly. The WID therefore defines variables that relate to both sectors separately, and to the sectors combined.

The sequence of accounts is very similar for both sectors, so we describe it for the combined sector only. The only difference is that there is not item for “mixed income” in the accounts of NPISH.

3.2.1. Income of the Sectors Combined

3.2.1.1. Primary Incomes of Households and NPISH

The primary income is the income that accrues to households and NPISH before the operation of (direct) taxes and transfers. It is made up of the compensation of employees (which includes social security contributions), the property income (received minus paid), the operating surplus (i.e. rental income, including imputed rents) and the mixed income (income of the self-employed). In many countries, these two items are only reported jointly. Operating surplus and mixed income can be gross or net depending on whether consumption of fixed capital is accounted for.

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prihn (=) net primary income of households and NPISH B5n S14 + S15
comhn     (+) compensation of employees D1 S14 + S15
prphn     (+) property income (net) D4 S14 + S15
nsmhn     (+) net operating surplus and mixed income B2n + B3n S14 + S15
nsrhn         (+) net operating surplus B2n S14 + S15
nmxhn         (+) net mixed income B3n S14 + S15

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prghn (=) gross primary income of households and NPISH B5n S14 + S15
comhn     (+) compensation of employees D1 S14 + S15
prphn     (+) property income (net) D4 S14 + S15
gsmhn     (+) gross operating surplus and mixed income B2g + B3g S14 + S15
gsrhn         (+) gross operating surplus B2g S14 + S15
gmxhn         (+) gross mixed income B3g S14 + S15

3.2.1.2. Secondary Incomes of Households and NPISH

Secondary income corresponds to primary income, to which we remove direct taxes (both income or wealth taxes and social contributions) and to which we add all cash transfers.

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
sechn (=) net secondary income of households and NPISH B6n + D7 S14 + S15
prihn     (+) net primary income of households and NPISH D1 S14 + S15
taxhn     (-) direct taxes D5 + D61 S14 + S15
sschn         (+) social contributions D61 S14 + S15
tiwhn         (+) personal taxes on income and wealth D5 S14 + S15
ssbhn     (+) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S14 + S15

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
seghn (=) gross secondary income of households and NPISH B6n + D7 S14 + S15
prghn     (+) gross primary income of households and NPISH D1 S14 + S15
taxhn     (-) direct taxes D5 + D61 S14 + S15
sschn         (+) social contributions D61 S14 + S15
tiwhn         (+) personal taxes on income and wealth D5 S14 + S15
ssbhn     (+) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S14 + S15

3.2.1.3. Consumption and Savings of Households and NPISH

We estimate savings by removing consumption expenditures from the secondary income.

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
savhn (=) net savings of households and NPISH B8n + D7 S14 + S15
sechn     (+) net secondary income of households and NPISH B6n + D7 S14 + S15
conhn     (-) private expenditures of households and NPISH P3 S14 + S15

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
saghn (=) gross savings of households and NPISH B8n + D7 S14 + S15
seghn     (+) gross secondary income of households and NPISH B6n + D7 S14 + S15
conhn     (-) private expenditures of households and NPISH P3 S14 + S15

3.2.1.4. Relation between Net and Gross Variables

The various income/saving concepts may be considered gross or net of depreciation. Note that for the household sector, we can distinguish between the consumption of fixed capital attributable to mixed income, and the consumption of fixed capital attributable to operating surplus.

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prghn (=) gross primary income of households and NPISH B5g S14 + S15
prihn     (+) net primary income of households and NPISH B5n S14 + S15
cfchn     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14 + S15
seghn (=) gross secondary income of households and NPISH B6g + D7 S14 + S15
sechn     (+) net secondary income of households and NPISH B6n + D7 S14 + S15
cfchn     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14 + S15
saghn (=) gross savings of households and NPISH B8g + D7 S14 + S15
savhn     (+) net savings income of households and NPISH B8n + D7 S14 + S15
cfchn     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14 + S15
gsmhn (=) gross surplus and mixed income of households and NPISH B2g + B3g S14 + S15
nsmhn     (+) net surplus and mixed income of households and NPISH B2n + B3n S14 + S15
cfchn     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14 + S15
gsrhn (=) gross surplus of households and NPISH B2g S14 + S15
nsrhn     (+) net surplus of households and NPISH B2n S14 + S15
ccshn     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to operating surplus
gmxhn (=) gross mixed income of households and NPISH B3g S14 + S15
nmxhn     (+) net mixed income of households and NPISH B3n S14 + S15
ccmhn     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to mixed income
cfchn (=) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14 + S15
ccshn     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to operating surplus
ccmhn     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to mixed income

3.2.2. Income of Households

3.2.2.1. Primary Incomes of the Household Sector

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
priho (=) net primary income of households B5n S14
comho     (+) compensation of employees D1 S14
prpho     (+) property income (net) D4 S14
nsmho     (+) net operating surplus and mixed income B2n + B3n S14
nsrho         (+) net operating surplus B2n S14
nmxho         (+) net mixed income B3n S14

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgho (=) gross primary income of households B5n S14
comho     (+) compensation of employees D1 S14
prpho     (+) property income (net) D4 S14
gsmho     (+) gross operating surplus and mixed income B2g + B3g S14
gsrho         (+) gross operating surplus B2g S14
gmxho         (+) gross mixed income B3g S14

3.2.2.2. Secondary Incomes of the Household Sector

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
secho (=) net secondary income of households B6n + D7 S14
priho     (+) net primary income of households D1 S14
taxho     (-) direct taxes D5 + D61 S14
sscho         (+) social contributions D61 S14
tiwho         (+) personal taxes on income and wealth D5 S14
ssbho     (+) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S14

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
segho (=) gross secondary income of households B6n + D7 S14
prgho     (+) gross primary income of households D1 S14
taxho     (-) direct taxes D5 + D61 S14
sscho         (+) social contributions D61 S14
tiwho         (+) personal taxes on income and wealth D5 S14
ssbho     (+) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S14

3.2.2.3. Consumption and Savings of the Household Sector

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
savho (=) net savings of households B8n + D7 S14
secho     (+) net secondary income of households B6n + D7 S14
conho     (-) private expenditures of households P3 S14

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
sagho (=) gross savings of households B8n + D7 S14
segho     (+) gross secondary income of households B6n + D7 S14
conho     (-) private expenditures of households P3 S14

3.2.2.4. Relation between Net and Gross Variables

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgho (=) gross primary income of households B5g S14
priho     (+) net primary income of households B5n S14
cfcho     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14
segho (=) gross secondary income of households B6g + D7 S14
secho     (+) net secondary income of households B6n + D7 S14
cfcho     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14
sagho (=) gross savings of households B8g + D7 S14
savho     (+) net savings income of households B8n + D7 S14
cfcho     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14
gsmho (=) gross surplus and mixed income of households B2g + B3g S14
nsmho     (+) net surplus and mixed income of households B2n + B3n S14
cfcho     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14
gsrho (=) gross surplus of households B2g S14
nsrho     (+) net surplus of households B2n S14
ccsho     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to operating surplus
gmxho (=) gross mixed income of households B3g S14
nmxho     (+) net mixed income of households B3n S14
ccmho     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to mixed income
cfcho (=) consumption of fixed capital P51c S14
ccsho     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to operating surplus
ccmho     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to mixed income

3.2.3. Income of NPISH

3.2.3.1. Primary Incomes of NPISH

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prinp (=) net primary income of NPISH B5n S15
comnp     (+) compensation of employees D1 S15
prpnp     (+) property income (net) D4 S15
nsrnp     (+) net operating surplus B2n S15

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgnp (=) gross primary income of NPISH B5n S15
comnp     (+) compensation of employees D1 S15
prpnp     (+) property income (net) D4 S15
gsrnp     (+) gross operating surplus and mixed income B2g S15

3.2.3.2. Secondary Incomes of NPISH

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
secnp (=) net secondary income of NPISH B6n + D7 S15
prinp     (+) net primary income of NPISH D1 S15
taxnp     (-) direct taxes D5 + D61 S15
sscnp         (+) social contributions D61 S15
tiwnp         (+) personal taxes on income and wealth D5 S15
ssbnp     (+) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S15

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
segnp (=) gross secondary income of NPISH B6n + D7 S15
prgnp     (+) gross primary income of NPISH D1 S15
taxnp     (-) direct taxes D5 + D61 S15
sscnp         (+) social contributions D61 S15
tiwnp         (+) personal taxes on income and wealth D5 S15
ssbnp     (+) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S15

3.2.3.3. Consumption and Savings of NPISH

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
savnp (=) net savings of NPISH B8n + D7 S15
secnp     (+) net secondary income of NPISH B6n + D7 S15
connp     (-) private expenditures of NPISH P3 S15

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
sagnp (=) gross savings of NPISH B8n + D7 S15
segnp     (+) gross secondary income of NPISH B6n + D7 S15
connp     (-) private expenditures of NPISH P3 S15

3.2.3.4. Relation between Net and Gross Variables

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgnp (=) gross primary income of NPISH B5g S15
prinp     (+) net primary income of NPISH B5n S15
cfcnp     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S15
segnp (=) gross secondary income of NPISH B6g + D7 S15
secnp     (+) net secondary income of NPISH B6n + D7 S15
cfcnp     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S15
sagnp (=) gross savings of NPISH B8g + D7 S15
savnp     (+) net savings income of NPISH B8n + D7 S15
cfcnp     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S15
gsrnp (=) gross surplus of NPISH B2g S15
nsrnp     (+) net surplus of NPISH B2n S15
cfcnp     (+) consumption of fixed capital attributable to operating surplus

3.3. Income of the Corporate Sector

The UN SNA distinguishes financial from non-financial corporations in its guidelines. This distinction is not always needed, so we also provide data for both sectors combined. The sequence of accounts is identical for both sectors, so we only provide detailed explanation for the combined sectors.

3.3.1. Income the Sectors Combined

3.3.1.1. Primary Income of Corporations

The primary income of corporations corresponds to the income they have left from their sales after paying their intermediary consumptions, the taxes of productions, their employees, their creditors, and their shareholders. It can be decomposed into their operating surplus (the product of their sales after paying their employees, intermediary consumptions and taxes on productions) and their net property income (usually negative because corporations pay money to their shareholders in other sectors).

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prico (=) net primary income of corporations B5n S11 + S12
prpco     (+) property income (net) D4 S11 + S12
nsrco     (+) net operating surplus B2n S11 + S12

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgco (=) gross primary income of corporations B5g S11 + S12
prpco     (+) property income (net) D4 S11 + S12
gsrco     (+) gross operating surplus B2g S11 + S12

3.3.1.2. Secondary Income of Corporations

To move from the primary to the secondary income of corporations, we first remove the corporate tax. Then, we also add social contributions paid directly to private employer social insurance, and remove the social benefits they pay out to their employees.

Note that for corporations, their secondary income is equal to their net saving, because corporations have no consumption expenditure.

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
secco (=) net secondary income/net saving of corporations B6n + D7 S11 + S12
prico     (+) net primary income of corporations B5n S11 + S12
taxco     (-) corporate tax D5 S11 + S12
sscco     (+) social contributions to private employer social insurance D61 S11 + S12
ssbco     (-) social benefits from private employer social insurance D62 S11 + S12

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
segco (=) gross secondary income/gross saving of corporations B6g + D7 S11 + S12
prgco     (+) gross primary income of corporations B5g S11 + S12
taxco     (-) corporate tax D5 S11 + S12
sscco     (+) social contributions to private employer social insurance D61 S11 + S12
ssbco     (-) social benefits from private employer social insurance D62 S11 + S12

3.3.1.3. Relation between Net and Gross Variables

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgco (=) gross primary income of corporations B5g S11 + S12
prico     (+) net primary income of corporations B5n S11 + S12
cfcco     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S11 + S12
segco (=) gross secondary income/gross saving of corporations B6g + D7 S11 + S12
secco     (+) net secondary income/net saving of corporations B6n + D7 S11 + S12
cfcco     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S11 + S12

3.3.2. Income of Non-financial Corporations

3.3.2.1. Primary Income of Non-financial Corporations

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prinf (=) net primary income of non-financial corporations B5n S11
prpnf     (+) property income (net) D4 S11
nsrnf     (+) net operating surplus B2n S11

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgnf (=) gross primary income of non-financial corporations B5g S11
prpnf     (+) property income (net) D4 S11
gsrnf     (+) gross operating surplus B2g S11

3.3.2.2. Secondary Income of Non-financial Corporations

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
secnf (=) net secondary income/net saving of non-financial corporations B6n + D7 S11
prinf     (+) net primary income of non-financial corporations B5n S11
taxnf     (-) corporate tax D5 S11
sscnf     (+) social contributions to private employer social insurance D61 S11
ssbnf     (-) social benefits from private employer social insurance D62 S11

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
segnf (=) gross secondary income/gross saving of non-financial corporations B6g + D7 S11
prgnf     (+) gross primary income of non-financial corporations B5g S11
taxnf     (-) corporate tax D5 S11
sscnf     (+) social contributions to private employer social insurance D61 S11
ssbnf     (-) social benefits from private employer social insurance D62 S11

3.3.2.3. Relation between Net and Gross Variables

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgnf (=) gross primary income of non-financial corporations B5g S11
prinf     (+) net primary income of non-financial corporations B5n S11
cfcnf     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S11
segnf (=) gross secondary income/gross saving of non-financial corporations B6g + D7 S11
secnf     (+) net secondary income/net saving of non-financial corporations B6n + D7 S11
cfcnf     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S11

3.3.3. Income of Financial Corporations

3.3.3.1. Primary Income of Financial Corporations

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prifc (=) net primary income of financial corporations B5n S12
prpfc     (+) property income (net) D4 S12
nsrfc     (+) net operating surplus B2n S12

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgfc (=) gross primary income of financial corporations B5g S12
prpfc     (+) property income (net) D4 S12
gsrfc     (+) gross operating surplus B2g S12

3.3.3.2. Secondary Income of Financial Corporations

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
secfc (=) net secondary income/net saving of financial corporations B6n + D7 S12
prifc     (+) net primary income of financial corporations B5n S12
taxfc     (-) corporate tax D5 S12
sscfc     (+) social contributions to private employer social insurance D61 S12
ssbfc     (-) social benefits from private employer social insurance D62 S12

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
segfc (=) gross secondary income/gross saving of financial corporations B6g + D7 S12
prgfc     (+) gross primary income of financial corporations B5g S12
taxfc     (-) corporate tax D5 S12
sscfc     (+) social contributions to private employer social insurance D61 S12
ssbfc     (-) social benefits from private employer social insurance D62 S12

3.3.3.3. Relation between Net and Gross Variables

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prgfc (=) gross primary income of financial corporations B5g S12
prifc     (+) net primary income of financial corporations B5n S12
cfcfc     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S12
segfc (=) gross secondary income/gross saving of financial corporations B6g + D7 S12
secfc     (+) net secondary income/net saving of financial corporations B6n + D7 S12
cfcfc     (+) consumption of fixed capital P51c S12

3.4. Income of the Government Sector

3.4.1. Primary Income of the Government

The primary income of the government sector is made up of three components. The most important is taxes less subsidies on production and imports. Then we have the net property income (received minus paid) of the government, which is usually negative because it is mostly made up of interests that the government pays on its debt. The last item, “operating surplus”, is often equal to zero by convention, because the UN SNA value the production of the government at its cost, so that it has zero profit. In practice, governments have some activities that operate within market context, and this output is valued at its price like the output of other sectors, and this can lead to a small operating surplus.

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prigo (=) net primary income of the general government B5n S13
ptxgo     (+) taxes on production and imports, less subsidies D2 – D3 S13
tpigo         (+) taxes on production and imports D2 S13
tprgo             (+) taxes on products D21 S13
otpgp             (+) other taxes on production D29 S13
spigo         (-) subsidies on production and imports D3 S13
sprgo             (+) subsidies on products D31 S13
ospgo             (+) other subsidies on production D39 S13
prpgo     (+) property income (net) D4 S13
nsrgo     (+) net operating surplus and miscellaneous B2n S13

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
prggo (=) gross primary income of the general government B5n S13
ptxgo     (+) taxes on production and imports, less subsidies D2 – D3 S13
tpigo         (+) taxes on production and imports D2 S13
tprgo             (+) taxes on products D21 S13
otpgp             (+) other taxes on production D29 S13
spigo         (-) subsidies on production and imports D3 S13
sprgo             (+) subsidies on products D31 S13
ospgo             (+) other subsidies on production D39 S13
prpgo     (+) property income (net) D4 S13
gsrgo     (+) gross operating surplus and miscellaneous B2n S13

3.4.2. Secondary Income of the Government

The secondary income of the government all direct taxes received by the government (income and wealth taxes, social contributions, corporate tax), and removes all social benefits in cash paid to households. Transfers in nature, however, are considered consumption expenditures and only included in consumption and savings of the government.

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
secgo (=) net secondary income of the general government B6n + D7 S13
prigo     (+) net primary income of the general government B5n S13
taxgo     (+) direct taxes D5 + D61 S13
tiwgo         (+) direct taxes on income and wealth D5 S13
sscgo         (+) social contributions D61 S13
ssbgo     (-) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S13

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
seggo (=) gross secondary income of the general government B6n + D7 S13
prggo     (+) gross primary income of the general government B5n S13
taxgo     (+) direct taxes D5 + D61 S13
tiwgo         (+) direct taxes on income and wealth D5 S13
sscgo         (+) social contributions D61 S13
ssbgo     (-) social benefits other than social transfers in kind D62 S13

3.4.3. Consumption and Savings of the Government

The consumption expenditures of the government (i.e. transfers in nature) are first divided between individual consumption expenditures (expenditures that benefit specific individuals, mostly health and education) and collective consumption expenditures (expenditures that benefit the community as a whole).

Net of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
savgo (=) net savings of the general government B8n + D7 S13
secgo     (+) net secondary income of the general government B6n + D7 S13
congo     (-) final consumption expenditures P3 S13
indgo         (+) individual consumption expenditures P31 S13
colgo         (+) collective consumption expenditure P32 S13

Gross of Consumption of Fixed Capital

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
saggo (=) gross savings of the general government B8n + D7 S13
seggo     (+) gross secondary income of the general government B6n + D7 S13
congo     (-) final consumption expenditures P3 S13
indgo         (+) individual consumption expenditures P31 S13
colgo         (+) collective consumption expenditure P32 S13

A second, more precise decomposition of government spending separates the different functions of government expenditures.

Government Spending by Function

WID code Description SNA code SNA sector
congo (=) final consumption expenditures P3 S13
gpsgo     (+) general public services S13
defgo     (+) defense S13
polgo     (+) public order and safety S13
ecogo     (+) economic affairs S13
envgo     (+) environment protection S13
hougo     (+) housing and community amenities S13
heago     (+) health S13
recgo     (+) recreation, culture and religion S13
edugo     (+) education S13
sopgo     (+) social protection S13
othgo     (+) other government spending S13

4. Distributed Income Variables

Distributed income variables relate both to a specific income concept and to a specific part of the distribution. They can be used to retrieve the share, the average or the threshold for various percentile groups. For how to use percentile codes in the WID, please refer to the dedicated section. This section describes the five-letter codes that denote the various income concepts.

Note that every five-letter code is associated to two concepts: the income that is attributed to individuals, and the income used to rank individuals (the ranking variable). In some cases these concepts are identical, but this is not always the case. For example, we can request that individuals be ranked according to their total income (labor and capital) top define the top 1%, and then request to know the capital income of that group. This is why the tables below give both the concept and the ranking variable associated to each WID code.

4.1. “Fiscal” Income

“Fiscal” income is a legacy concept from the World Top Income Database (WTID), the precursor of the WID. While it is still included in the WID, it will be progressively superseded by DINA income concepts, which are better harmonized.

“Fiscal” income is close to the concept of taxable income, and as such its exact definition varies between countries or over time. It differs from taxable income only because of the removal of basic deductions or taxable minimums (see country-specific papers for details). Note that in most cases, fiscal income variables are only available for the top 10% of the distribution.

WID code description ranking variable
fiinc (=) fiscal income total fiscal income
filin     (+) fiscal labor income
fiwag         (+) wage and pensions
fimil         (+) labor component of mixed income
ficap     (+) fiscal capital income
firen         (+) rents
fiint         (+) interests
fidiv         (+) dividends
fikgi         (+) capital gains
fimik         (+) capital component of mixed income
fimix (=) mixed income total fiscal income
fimil     (+) labor component of mixed income
fimik     (+) capital component of mixed income

4.2. DINA Income

DINA income concepts are distributed income concepts that are consistent with national accounts aggregates. The precise definitions are outlined in the DINA guidelines and country-specific papers.

4.2.1. Pretax Income

Pretax income is our benchmark distributional income concept. It includes social insurance benefits (and remove corresponding contributions), but exclude other forms of redistribution (income tax, social assistance benefits, etc.)

WID code description ranking variable
ptinc (=) pretax national income pretax national income
ptlin     (+) pretax labor income
ptkin     (+) pretax capital income
ptinc (=) pretax national income pretax national income
pllin     (+) pretax labor income pretax labor income
pkkin     (+) pretax capital income pretax capital income

4.2.2. Post-tax Income

Post-tax income measures the distribution of income after redistribution. Our benchmark concept, post-tax national income, includes both in-kind and in-cash redistribution. Because the distribution of in-kind transfers requires a lot of assumptions, we also provide estimates for post-tax disposable income, which excludes in-kind transfers.

WID code description ranking variable
diinc (=) post-tax national income post-tax national income
cainc (=) post-tax disposable income post-tax disposable income

4.2.3. Factor Income

Factor income measures income inequality before any redistribution (be it through social insurance of social assistance). We prefer to avoid this concept for international comparisons because in general the elderly population has near-zero facto income so that factor income can be very sensitive to the age structure of the population.

WID code description ranking variable
fainc (=) factor national income factor national income
flinc (=) labor factor income labor factor income

5. Aggregate Wealth Variables

The WID provides complete balance sheets (financial and non-financial) for the national economy as a whole and the different sectors of the economy. A detailed description of the concepts is available in the DINA guidelines and specific papers.

5.1. National Economy

Our benchmark measures of net national wealth is market-value national wealth. That is, corporations are valued at their market values (their equity liability). An alternative definition is book-value national wealth, which values corporations like the sum of their assets (minus their non-equity liability).

WID code description
nweal (=) net market-value national wealth
nwnfa     (+) national non-financial assets
nwhou         (+) national housing assets
nwdwe             (+) dwellings
nwlan             (+) land underlying dwellings
nwbus         (+) national business and other non-financial assets
nwagr             (+) agricultural land
nwnat             (+) natural capital
nwodk         (+) other domestic capital
nwnxa     (+) net foreign assets
nwgxa         (+) gross foreign assets
nwgxd         (-) gross foreign liabilities
nwoff         (+) offshore assets
nwboo (=) book-value national wealth
nweal     (+) net national wealth
cwres     (+) residual corporate wealth

5.2. Households and NPISH

The SNA distinguishes households from non-profit institutions serving households, but in some cases the two sectors are only reported jointly. The WID contains variables for each of these two sectors, separately and jointly. The general structure of the balance sheet is identical in all cases.

5.2.1. Combined Sector

WID code description
pweal (=) net wealth
pwnfa     (+) national non-financial assets
pwhou         (+) national housing assets
pwdwe             (+) dwellings
pwlan             (+) land underlying dwellings
pwbus         (+) national business and other non-financial assets
pwagr             (+) agricultural land
pwnat             (+) natural capital
pwodk             (+) other domestic capital
pwfin     (+) financial assets
pwfiw         (+) currency, deposits, bonds and loans
pwcud             (+) currency and deposits
pwbol             (+) bonds and loans
pwequ     (+) equities, fund shares and offshore wealth
pweqi         (+) equities
pwoff         (+) offshore wealth
pwpen     (+) pension funds and life insurance
pwdeb     (-) liabilities
pwfie (=) financial assets except currency and deposits
pwfin     (+) financial assets
pwcud     (-) currency and deposits

5.2.1. Household Sector

WID code description
hweal (=) net wealth
hwnfa     (+) national non-financial assets
hwhou         (+) national housing assets
hwdwe             (+) dwellings
hwlan             (+) land underlying dwellings
hwbus         (+) national business and other non-financial assets
hwagr             (+) agricultural land
hwnat             (+) natural capital
hwodk             (+) other domestic capital
hwfin     (+) financial assets
hwfiw         (+) currency, deposits, bonds and loans
hwcud             (+) currency and deposits
hwbol             (+) bonds and loans
hwequ     (+) equities, fund shares and offshore wealth
hweqi         (+) equities
hwoff         (+) offshore wealth
hwpen     (+) pension funds and life insurance
hwdeb     (-) liabilities
hwfie (=) financial assets except currency and deposits
hwfin     (+) financial assets
hwcud     (-) currency and deposits

5.2.2. NPISH

WID code description
iweal (=) net wealth
iwnfa     (+) national non-financial assets
iwhou         (+) national housing assets
iwdwe             (+) dwellings
iwlan             (+) land underlying dwellings
iwbus         (+) national business and other non-financial assets
iwagr             (+) agricultural land
iwnat             (+) natural capital
iwodk             (+) other domestic capital
iwfin     (+) financial assets
iwfiw         (+) currency, deposits, bonds and loans
iwcud             (+) currency and deposits
iwbol             (+) bonds and loans
iwequ     (+) equities, fund shares and offshore wealth
iweqi         (+) equities
iwoff         (+) offshore wealth
iwpen     (+) pension funds and life insurance
iwdeb     (-) liabilities
iwfie (=) financial assets except currency and deposits
iwfin     (+) financial assets
iwcud     (-) currency and deposits

5.3. Corporate Sector

Corporate sector wealth (i.e. the sum of corporations’s assets, minus their debt) is what we call the book value of corporations. This value can be different from the market value of corporations (i.e. their equity liability): the ratio between these two quantities is Tobin’s Q.

WID code description
cwboo (=) book value of corporations
cwnfa     (+) national non-financial assets
cwhou         (+) national housing assets
cwdwe             (+) dwellings
cwlan             (+) land underlying dwellings
cwbus         (+) national business and other non-financial assets
cwagr             (+) agricultural land
cwnat             (+) natural capital
cwodk             (+) other domestic capital
cwfin     (+) financial assets
cwfiw         (+) currency, deposits, bonds and loans
cwcud             (+) currency and deposits
cwbol             (+) bonds and loans
cwequ     (+) equities, fund shares and offshore wealth
cweqi         (+) equities
cwoff         (+) offshore wealth
cwpen     (+) pension funds and life insurance
cwdeb     (-) corporate debt (non-equity liability)
cwdeq (=) market value of corporations (equity liability)
cwboo     (+) book value of corporations
cwres     (+) residual corporate wealth
icwtoq (*) Tobin’s Q (market value of corporations/book value of corporations)
cwfie (=) financial assets except currency and deposits
cwfin     (+) financial assets
cwcud     (-) currency and deposits

5.4. General Government Sector

By default, the net wealth of the government sector is unconsolidated, like in other sectors. But we do provide consolidated government debt as an auxiliary variable.

WID code description
gweal (=) net wealth of the general government
gwnfa     (+) national non-financial assets
gwhou         (+) national housing assets
gwdwe             (+) dwellings
gwlan             (+) land underlying dwellings
gwbus         (+) national business and other non-financial assets
gwagr             (+) agricultural land
gwnat             (+) natural capital
gwodk             (+) other domestic capital
gwfin     (+) financial assets
gwfiw         (+) currency, deposits, bonds and loans
gwcud             (+) currency and deposits
gwbol             (+) bonds and loans
gwequ     (+) equities, fund shares and offshore wealth
gweqi         (+) equities
gwoff         (+) offshore wealth
gwpen     (+) pension funds and life insurance
gwdeb     (-) liabilities
gwdec (=) consolidated government debt
gwfie (=) financial assets except currency and deposits
gwfin     (+) financial assets
gwcud     (-) currency and deposits

6. Distributed Wealth Variables

The distributed wealth variables are identical to the aggregate wealth variables of the household sector.

WID code description
hweal (=) net national wealth
hwnfa     (+) national non-financial assets
hwhou         (+) national housing assets
hwdwe             (+) dwellings
hwlan             (+) land underlying dwellings
hwbus         (+) national business and other non-financial assets
hwagr             (+) agricultural land
hwnat             (+) natural capital
hwodk             (+) other domestic capital
hwfin     (+) financial assets
hwfiw         (+) currency, deposits, bonds and loans
hwcud             (+) currency and deposits
hwbol             (+) bonds and loans
hwequ     (+) equities, fund shares and offshore wealth
hweqi         (+) equities
hwoff         (+) offshore wealth
hwpen     (+) pension funds and life insurance
hwdeb     (-) liabilities
hwfie (=) financial assets except currency and deposits
hwfin     (+) financial assets
hwcud     (-) currency and deposits

7. Price Index, Exchange Rates, Populations, etc.

7.1. Price Index

The WID uses a single price index to deflate all series: the national income deflator. It usually corresponds to the GDP deflator, although we do resort to the CPI when the deflator is not available. The price index is always anchored to the base year of the data, so that it is equal to 1 for this base year.

Full WID code description
inyixx999i national income price index

7.2. Exchange Rates

The WID contains two types of currency conversion factors (PPPs and market exchange rates) for three currencies (US dollars, euros and yuans). We provide long-term series for both of these indicators, but note that to convert between currencies in our benchmark approach, you only need to use the last value of each series: see Thomas Blanchet, Prices and currency conversions in WID.world, WID.world Technical Note Series n°2017/3 for details.

PPP Conversion Factors

Full WID code description
xlcusp999i LCU per USD
xlceup999i LCU per EUR
xlcyup999i LCU per CNY

Market Exchange Rates

Full WID code description
xlcusx999i LCU per USD
xlceux999i LCU per EUR
xlcyux999i LCU per CNY

7.3. Population

The WID contains several variables that relate to population sizes. They are all associated to the one-letter code “n”. Combined with the various five-letter codes for concepts, they form the six-letter codes described below. The main concept is “npopul” that refer to the total individual population within a sex and age group, but we also provide variables related to tax units or employed population in some cases where this information is useful to understand other (inequality) series.

six-letter code description
npopul population
npopem employed population
ntaxto total tax population
ntaxma number of tax units — married couples & single adults
ntaxad number of tax units — adults
ntaxre number of tax returns

7.4. Wealth/Income Ratios and Labor/Capital Shares

The WID provides the following variables for wealth/income ratios and the capital share. They are provided for convenience, and are easy to recalculate based on macro variables. For the labor and the capital share, also see section 3.1.5.

full WID code description
wlabsh999i labor share of factor-price national income
wcapsh999i capital share of factor-price national income
wwealn999i net national wealth to net national income ratio
wwealp999i net private wealth to net national income ratio
wwealh999i net personal wealth to net national income ratio
wweali999i net non-profit wealth to net national income ratio
wwealc999i net corporate wealth to net national income ratio
wwealg999i net public wealth to net national income ratio

7.5. Inequality Transparency

WID.world produces a single inequality transparency index for each country. The index ranges from 0 to 20 and seeks to place equal emphasis on wealth and income. It is constructed as follows:

  • Income survey tabulations (or consumption surveys) available to researchers for at least one year over the past 10 years add 1 point.
  • Income survey microdata add up to 3 points.
  • Wealth survey tabulations add up to 1 point.
  • Wealth survey microdata add up to 3 points.
  • Income tax tabulations covering labour income add up to 1 point.
  • Income tax tabulations covering capital income add up to 1 point.
  • Income tax microdata covering labour income add up to 2 point.
  • Income tax microdata covering capital income add up to 2 point.
  • Wealth tax or estate tax tabulations add up to 2 point.
  • Wealth tax or estate tax microdata add up to 4 point.
full WID code description
iquali999i inequality transparency index

8. Aggregate Carbon Variables

WID.world provides several variables related to carbon aggregates. It is constructed as follows:

8.1. National territorial carbon emissions

WID code description
ntghg (=) National territorial carbon emissions
ntcar     (+) National territorial CO2 emissions
ntgho     (+) National territorial emissions of other gases
ntghg (=) National territorial carbon emissions
hfghd     (+) Household direct emissions
ntgna     (+) Territorial emissions of the national productive sector and other emissions not attributed to households
ntcna          (+) Territorial emissions of the national productive sector and other emissions not attributed to households (CO2)
ntona          (+) Territorial emissions of the national productive sector and other emissions not attributed to households (Other gases)

8.2. National imported carbon emissions

WID code description
nighg (=) National imported carbon emissions
nicar     (+) National imported CO2 emissions
nigho     (+) National imported emissions of other gases
nighg (=) National imported carbon emissions
highg     (+) Household imported carbon emissions
hicar          (+) Household imported CO2 emissions
higho          (+) Household imported emissions of other gases
gighg     (+) Government imported emissions
gicar          (+) Government imported CO2 emissions
gigho          (+) Government imported emissions of other gases
iighg     (+) Investment imported carbon emissions
iicar          (+) Investment imported CO2 emissions
iigho          (+) Investment imported emissions of other gases
oighg     (+) NGO imported carbon emissions
oicar          (+) NGO imported CO2 emissions
oigho          (+) NGO imported emissions of other gases

8.3. National exported carbon emissions

WID code description
neghg (=) National exported carbon emissions
necar     (+) National exported CO2 emissions
negho     (+) National exported emissions of other gases

8.4. National net imports of carbon emissions

WID code description
nnghg (=) National net imports of carbon emissions
nncar     (+) National net imports of CO2 emissions
nngho     (+) National net imports of other gases

8.4. National carbon footprint

WID code description
nfghg (=) National carbon footprint
nfcar     (+) National CO2 footprint
nfgho     (+) National footprint of other gases
nfghg (=) National carbon footprint
hfghg     (+) Household carbon footprint
hfghd          (+) Household direct emissions
hfghn          (+) Household indirect carbon footprint
hfcar               (+) Household indirect CO2 footprint
hfgho               (+) Household indirect footprint of other gases
gfghg     (+) Government carbon footprint
gfcar          (+) Government CO2 footprint
gfgho          (+) Government footprint of other gases
ifghg     (+) Investment carbon footprint
ifcar          (+) Investment CO2 footprint
ifgho          (+) Investment footprint of other gases
ofghg     (+) NGO carbon footprint
ofcar          (+) NGO CO2 footprint
ofgho          (+) NGO footprint of other gases

9. Distributed Carbon Variables

WID.world provides distributed carbon variables. It is constructed as follows:

WID code description
ptghg (=) Personal territorial GHG emissions
ptcar     (+) Personal territorial carbon emissions
ptgho     (+) Personal territorial emissions from other gases
pfghg (=) Personal carbon footprint
pfcar     (+) Personal CO2 footprint
pfgho     (+) Personal footprint of other gases