Based on standards by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, Singapore has the 2nd worst income inequality at 0.458 in 2016. This “achievement” is just right below Chile’s 0.465, but worse than United States – a country deeply divided by income inequality.
State media Straits Times however hailed the Singapore’s latest figures as “lowest in 10 years”, and failed to produce evidence that poverty in Singapore has alleviated. According to the Department of Statistics, the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting worse. Income growth for the poorest, 1st to 10th percentile, stagnated at 1.4%. Income growth for the 1st – 50th percentile are also lower than the 4.3% enjoyed by the 71st to 80th percentile rich.
The government statistics is however quick to point out that government subsidies for the low income has gone up, claiming that those living in one and two-room flats received S$9,806 per household member in 2016 – double that of the average S$4,186 received across all households.
You may download the official statistics here.