The How Rich Am I Calculator estimates the median Irish equivalised disposable income is in the top 5% of global income in international dollars

9 comments

  1. [Source of median equivalised disposable income figure](https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-silc/surveyonincomeandlivingconditionssilc2020/income/). ‘Equivalised income’ takes the size and shape of a household into account and allows for analysis at an individualised level.

    GitHub for the calculator with methodology explained [here](https://github.com/centre-for-effective-altruism/how-rich-am-i).

    Important note:

    >Please note that there are many problems with all underlying source data attempting to estimate the global income distribution—some of these are discussed here. Any figures should therefore be taken with a grain of salt and treated as best guesses rather than established facts. Other attempts to estimate global income distribution get different, though broadly similar, results.

    The [2015 paper](https://web.archive.org/web/20160518000924/https:/www.piie.com/sites/default/files/publications/wp/wp15-7.pdf) this calculator is based on estimates worldwide median per capita income in 2013 was 2,010 international dollars and will be 4,000 international dollars in 2035. The median equivalised disposable income in Ireland in 2020 was 29,978 international dollars.

  2. It’s a little deceiving, as all relative to the cost of living in the country you reside in. My salary has a fraction of the buying power it would have in a developing country. Someone with half of my salary in a developing country might have much more disposable income and a better lifestyle.

    There are plenty of people in this country on very high salaries by international standards, but their quality of life is poor because they have no disposable income after the basics are paid for

    What it does illustrate is that relatively small donations to charities in developing countries can have huge impact, as long as it’s managed properly.

  6. I’ll have to admit it doesn’t feel like I’m in the top 5%, but I did a fair bit of travelling when I was younger and I know that it’s true, the poverty you see in other poor countries is truely shocking, and when I see these “Ireland is shite” posts it really makes me sigh and make me think my young dudes you’ve no idea what it’s like out there in the big bad world.

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