Government Report Highlights Growing Income Inequality Across Nagaland

Kohima: A comprehensive report released on May 7 by Sentiyanger Imchen has shed light on significant economic disparities across Nagaland. The data reveals a sharp divide in household wealth, with the bottom 50 percent of the population collectively receiving just 18 percent of the state's total income. In contrast, the wealthiest 5 percent of households account for nearly 21 percent of all income, earning an average of Rs 71,028 per month compared to the Rs 1,639 average for those in the bottom half.

The study, titled the Report on Income Disparity in Nagaland, calculates the state's overall Gini coefficient at 0.46. This metric, which measures inequality on a scale from zero to one, highlights the challenges facing the region. The findings were developed under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s statistical strengthening programme, in partnership with the University of Hyderabad.

Researchers based these conclusions on a field survey of 4,396 urban and rural households conducted between October and December 2024. The data indicates that income inequality is slightly more pronounced in urban settings, which recorded a Gini coefficient of 0.44, compared to 0.42 in rural areas. Regional variations were also notable at the district level, with Longleng exhibiting the highest disparity at 0.492, while Phek demonstrated the most equitable distribution with a coefficient of 0.366. Officials expect these findings to serve as a foundation for future policy initiatives designed to bridge the economic gap across the state.