national income

noun

: the aggregate of earnings from a nation's current production including compensation of employees, interest, rental income, and profits of business after taxes

Examples of national income in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in February that his government would increase the UK’s defense spending by cutting its aid budget to 0.3% of gross national income in 2027, its lowest level since 1999. Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 12 June 2025 Currently, national income is about $28 trillion, of which 7% is about $2 trillion and 3% is about $840 billion. Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 Norway has long been one of Gavi’s largest supporters — and more broadly, has stood out by dedicating 1% of its gross national income to development assistance. Michael Sheldrick, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 The poorest countries pay 20 cents per vaccine, and prices rise along with national income. Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for national income

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of national income was in 1878

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“National income.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/national%20income. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on national income

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!