national income

American  

noun

1. the total net earnings from the production of goods and services in a country over a period of time, usually one year, and consisting essentially of wages, salaries, rent, profits, and interest.

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national income British  

noun

1. economics the total of all incomes accruing over a specified period to residents of a country and consisting of wages, salaries, profits, rent, and interest

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Etymology

Origin of national income

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The possibility of a populist backlash is especially relevant currently, given that the share of national income going to labor is now at an all-time low.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

The two main ones are to not borrow to fund day-to-day spending by the end of this parliament, and to get government debt falling as a share of national income over the same period.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

France is planning to reduce development assistance by nearly 40%, and the U.K. is shrinking aid expenditures from 0.5% to 0.3% of its gross national income by 2027.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

In the event, none reached the 0.1% of national income threshold.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2025

The result is, of course, an increase of the aggregate national income, and, at the same time, a decrease of rent.

From Principles of Political Economy, Vol. II by Roscher, Wilhelm