Taiwan Household Income Gap Reaches 6.17 Times, Highest in 14 Years

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) released the 2025 (114) household income and expenditure survey results today (14th). In 2025, the top 20% of households by disposable income had an average of NT$2.449 million per household, a 3.9% increase from the previous year. The bottom 20% averaged NT$397,000 per household, up 3.5% year-on-year. This widened the income gap to 6.17 times—the highest in 14 years.

Before accounting for government transfers (social welfare and taxation), the income disparity among quintiles reached 7.49 times in 2025, an increase of 0.11 times from the previous year.

DGBAS stated that various government subsidies—including living allowances for low-income households, elderly and farmer subsidies, childcare allowances, and social insurance premium support—reduced income inequality by 1.18 times. Additionally, household tax and other payments to the government further narrowed the gap by 0.15 times.

Statistics show that in 2025, the average total household income was NT$1.529 million, up 3.3% year-on-year. The average disposable income per household was NT$1.21 million, a 3.9% increase. Per capita disposable income averaged NT$450,000, up 7.4%.

In median terms, the median disposable income per household in 2025 was NT$1.018 million, up 3.4% year-on-year. The per capita median was NT$367,000, up 3.2%.

Total average household consumption expenditure in 2025 was NT$920,000, up 3.6% year-on-year. Average household savings reached NT$290,000, a 4.9% increase.

In terms of consumption breakdown, housing services, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels accounted for 24.1%—the largest share. Food, beverages, and tobacco followed at 15.4%. With increasing life expectancy, awareness of health and wellness has grown, leading to medical and healthcare expenditures accounting for 14.1% of total spending.