Nagaland records high income inequality, official report finds

May 8, 2026 2 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 8

Nagaland has recorded a high level of income inequality, with the State registering a Gini coefficient of 0.46, according to the Report on Income Disparity in Nagaland 2025.

The summary findings of the report, released via the State DIPR on May 7, highlighted substantial income disparity across the State, with Nagaland recording a Gini coefficient of 0.46, indicating a high level of income inequality.
Rural Nagaland recorded a coefficient of 0.42, while urban areas stood slightly higher at 0.44.

Gini coefficient, index, or ratio are measures of statistical dispersion that represent income disparity within a social group. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater levels of income inequality.

Further details of the report available on the Department of Economics and Statistics’ (DES) website showed that the bottom 50% of households account for only 18% of the State’s total income, while the top 5% receive around 21%, and the top 10% account for 33.43% of total income.

In terms of monthly earnings, the top 5% of households reported an average income of Rs 71,028, compared to just Rs 1,639 among the bottom half of households.

The urban-rural divide is further reflected in income concentration. In urban areas, the top 5% earn an average of Rs 1.43 lakh per month, while the bottom 50% earn only Rs 1,645.

In rural areas, the top 5% earn Rs 48,515, compared to Rs 1,528 among the bottom half.

District-wise, Longleng recorded the highest income inequality with a Gini coefficient of 0.492, while Phek reported the lowest disparity at 0.366.

Longleng also recorded the highest inequality in both rural (0.456) and urban (0.509) areas, while Zunheboto reported the lowest disparity in rural (0.330) and urban (0.359) settlements.

Annual income
The report estimates the State’s average annual household income at Rs 3.44 lakh. Rural households recorded an average monthly income of Rs 22,583 (Rs 2.59 lakh annually), while urban households reported nearly double at Rs 45,941 per month (Rs 5.20 lakh annually).

District-wise, Kohima reported the highest average annual household income at Rs 4.82 lakh, while Tuensang recorded the lowest at Rs 2.03 lakh.

In rural areas, Phek registered the highest average annual income at Rs 4.04 lakh, whereas Tuensang reported the lowest at Rs 1.61 lakh.

Among urban centres, Zunheboto recorded the highest annual household income at Rs 8.37 lakh, while Peren had the lowest at Rs 3.78 lakh.

About the survey
The Report on Income Disparity in Nagaland 2025 was undertaken by DES in collaboration with University of Hyderabad and prepared under the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) Support for Statistical Strengthening sub-scheme.

The field survey was conducted between October and December 2024, and the findings reflect income data for the 2024 calendar year.

The study covered 4,396 households across the State, including 1,315 households from 60 urban wards and 3,080 households from 140 rural villages.

The report was officially released by Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen on March 9 in the presence of Akunu S Meyase, Secretary, DES, and Neidilhou Keditsu, Director, DES, along with senior officers and officials of the Department.