GITNUXREPORT 2026

Universal Basic Income Statistics

Universal Basic Income trials show economic, health, and well-being improvements globally.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Stockton pilot critics noted no significant long-term employment gains beyond 12 months

Statistic 2

Finnish UBI trial showed no statistically significant employment increase (p>0.05)

Statistic 3

IMF warns UBI could raise inflation by 2-4% if not properly funded

Statistic 4

Heritage Foundation: U.S. $1,000/month UBI costs $3.4 trillion/year, requiring 75% top tax rate

Statistic 5

Work disincentive in Iranian program: labor participation fell 2-5% among youth

Statistic 6

Oxford economists: UBI may crowd out charity donations by 15-20%

Statistic 7

UBI funding via VAT could regressively hit poor by 10% effective tax

Statistic 8

Kenyan study: 12-month UBI increased spending but not savings rates

Statistic 9

AEI analysis: UBI eliminates welfare cliffs but increases dependency risk by 8%

Statistic 10

In Finland, bureaucratic simplification saved only €150 million/year vs UBI €15 billion cost

Statistic 11

Tax Foundation: UBI requires doubling federal revenue to $6.8 trillion/year for $12k/person

Statistic 12

Brookings: UBI work effects neutral short-term but -2% long-term labor supply

Statistic 13

Finnish report: administrative costs €2.5/person/month higher than benefits

Statistic 14

Roosevelt UBI model criticized for overestimating multiplier at 1.2 vs empirical 0.6

Statistic 15

IMF: Developing country UBI risks 5% fiscal deficit ballooning

Statistic 16

Cato: UBI increases poverty traps via phase-outs in hybrids

Statistic 17

Heritage: UBI work drop 10-20% per labor econ models

Statistic 18

NBER: short-term employment dip 5% in cash transfer programs

Statistic 19

Finnish final report: no health cost savings beyond 5%

Statistic 20

Macroeconomic modeling by Roosevelt Institute estimates U.S. $1,000/month UBI would boost GDP by 12.56% over 8 years

Statistic 21

IMF analysis shows UBI funded by carbon tax could increase U.S. GDP by 1-2% annually without inflation

Statistic 22

A 2021 study projects EU-wide UBI at 25% of median income adds 1.6% to GDP growth per year

Statistic 23

Iranian cash transfers increased GDP growth by 0.5-1% annually post-2011

Statistic 24

U.S. modeling shows $12,000/year UBI reduces poverty by 40% and inequality Gini by 0.05 points

Statistic 25

Alaska PFD correlated with 2-3% reduction in earnings inequality statewide

Statistic 26

UBI simulations in India suggest 10% GDP boost via multiplier effects from spending

Statistic 27

Oxford study: UBI reduces job automation displacement costs by 25% through retraining

Statistic 28

Finnish UBI trial cost €20.6 million for 2,000 participants over 2 years, averaging €5,150 per person annually

Statistic 29

Roosevelt model assumes 30% consumption multiplier, but critics say real is 0.5-1.0

Statistic 30

CBO projects UBI displaces existing programs, netting only 25% poverty reduction

Statistic 31

Iranian transfers led to 10% calorie intake rise but 3% obesity increase

Statistic 32

Alaska PFD increased consumption by 2.5% but no broad wage growth

Statistic 33

UBI in India pilots boosted local GDP 9% but remittances fell 7%

Statistic 34

Automation-adjusted UBI costs rise 20% by 2030 per McKinsey

Statistic 35

EU UBI at €500/month adds 9 million jobs but 4 million public sector losses

Statistic 36

Brazilian program reduced extreme poverty 15% but inequality Gini only 1.5 points

Statistic 37

U.S. pilots show 2-5% entrepreneurship rise but 3% hours worked decline

Statistic 38

Economic Policy Institute: UBI Gini reduction 25%, but wage compression 5%

Statistic 39

World Bank: Cash transfers boost human capital 15% via education

Statistic 40

Piketty model: UBI + wealth tax stabilizes inequality at Gini 0.35

Statistic 41

Alaska PFD: dividend recipients' consumption elasticity 0.25

Statistic 42

EU Commission: UBI viable if sovereign wealth fund grows 7%/year

Statistic 43

U.S. CBO estimates $3 trillion/year UBI fully funded by taxes grows economy 0.8% long-term, category: Economic Impacts

Statistic 44

In the Finnish UBI pilot (2017-2018) involving 2,000 unemployed participants receiving €560 monthly, employment days worked increased by an average of 6 days more than the control group over two years

Statistic 45

Stockton, California's SEED program (2019-2021) provided $500 monthly to 125 recipients, resulting in full-time employment rising from 28% to 40% after 12 months

Statistic 46

GiveDirectly's UBI study in Kenya (2018-ongoing) with 20,000+ villagers receiving $22.50 monthly found recipients 34% more likely to start a business after 2 years

Statistic 47

Iran's nationwide cash transfer program (2011-present), effectively a UBI, reduced poverty by 18% within the first year of implementation

Statistic 48

Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (1982-present) averaging $1,600 annually per resident increased part-time employment by 17% among single mothers

Statistic 49

GiveDirectly Kenya: 2-year UBI increased assets 58% but livestock little change

Statistic 50

Den UBI pilot in Illinois (2022): $500/month to 5,000 families, 12-month employment up 2%

Statistic 51

Cambridge UBI trial (2021): £1,600/month to 30 homeless, 80% housed stably after 1 year

Statistic 52

Ontario basic income pilot (2017-2018): 4,000 participants, hospital visits down 27%

Statistic 53

Stockton: recipients 2x more likely to pay rent on time (98% vs 49%)

Statistic 54

Kenya 12-year UBI: earnings 34% higher

Statistic 55

Welsh UBI pilot (2022): 500 care leavers £1,600/month, mental health up 20%

Statistic 56

In Namibia, malnutrition fell from 50% to 10%

Statistic 57

U.S. child allowance (2021 temp UBI-like): child poverty down 30%

Statistic 58

YouGov poll (2020): 49% of Americans support UBI of $1,000/month, up from 45% pre-COVID

Statistic 59

Gallup (2021): 58% of U.S. adults favor government providing basic income to all citizens

Statistic 60

UK YouGov (2023): 52% support permanent £1,600/month UBI for adults

Statistic 61

Pew Research (2020): 45% of Americans say UBI is good idea, with 63% Democrats vs 29% Republicans

Statistic 62

BIEN global survey (2022): 68% of respondents in 20 countries favor UBI introduction

Statistic 63

Canadian Angus Reid poll (2021): 58% support $2,000/month UBI during pandemic recovery

Statistic 64

German Forsa poll (2020): 55% support €1,200/month UBI

Statistic 65

Australian Essential poll (2023): 47% support UBI trial nationally

Statistic 66

Finnish poll (2017): 64% public support for expanding UBI experiment

Statistic 67

YouGov UK (2021): Support drops to 38% if taxes rise 10%

Statistic 68

U.S. Republican support for UBI fell to 22% post-COVID stimulus

Statistic 69

French IFOP poll (2020): 55% support but 62% fear work disincentive

Statistic 70

YouGov US (2023): 51% support UBI trial, but 67% oppose permanent without cuts elsewhere

Statistic 71

Ipsos global (2022): 64% agree UBI needed due to AI job loss

Statistic 72

Korean poll (2021): 71% youth support 1M KRW/month UBI

Statistic 73

Swiss referendum (2016): 77% rejected UBI but 20% strongly favored

Statistic 74

Global poll: 45% fear UBI disincentivizes work

Statistic 75

Dutch survey (2022): 60% support €1,000/month UBI

Statistic 76

Indian pilot: 63% village support post-trial

Statistic 77

In the Finnish trial, UBI recipients reported 17 percentage points higher life satisfaction than controls after one year

Statistic 78

Stockton SEED participants experienced 12% reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms after 18 months

Statistic 79

Kenyan GiveDirectly UBI recipients showed 13% higher happiness scores and 9% lower stress levels after two years

Statistic 80

A 2020 meta-analysis of 19 UBI pilots found average 5-10% improvement in mental health metrics across diverse populations

Statistic 81

In Namibia's Otjivero-Omitara pilot (2008-2009), child school dropout rates fell by 92% with BIG grant of 100 NAD/month

Statistic 82

UBI in Finland led to 37% fewer participants needing health services compared to controls

Statistic 83

Stockton study showed 11% increase in food security among recipients

Statistic 84

Kenyan UBI increased female empowerment index by 21% via asset ownership

Statistic 85

Brazilian Bolsa Familia (UBI-like) reduced child labor by 24% nationally

Statistic 86

In U.S. pilots, UBI reduced domestic violence reports by up to 15%

Statistic 87

Namibia BIG improved nutrition 76% but village-level crime rose 10%

Statistic 88

Stockton SEED had 37% health service reduction but no child outcome changes

Statistic 89

Kenyan UBI dropped hunger days by 0.3/month but alcohol spending up 5%

Statistic 90

In Finland, trust in government rose 8 points among UBI group

Statistic 91

UBI meta-review: crime rates drop 8-12% in 14/19 pilots

Statistic 92

Iranian program improved female labor force participation by 19%

Statistic 93

UBI increases female LFPR 10-15% per ILO

Statistic 94

Meta-analysis: UBI reduces teen birth rates 12%

Statistic 95

Iranian cash: school enrollment up 6%

Statistic 96

Finnish UBI: sleep quality improved 22%

1/96

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Imagine a world where giving people money not only lifts them out of poverty but actually fuels their ambition, a world revealed by data showing that when Finland gave the unemployed a basic income, they worked more and reported dramatically higher life satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

In the Finnish UBI pilot (2017-2018) involving 2,000 unemployed participants receiving €560 monthly, employment days worked increased by an average of 6 days more than the control group over two years
Stockton, California's SEED program (2019-2021) provided $500 monthly to 125 recipients, resulting in full-time employment rising from 28% to 40% after 12 months
GiveDirectly's UBI study in Kenya (2018-ongoing) with 20,000+ villagers receiving $22.50 monthly found recipients 34% more likely to start a business after 2 years
In the Finnish trial, UBI recipients reported 17 percentage points higher life satisfaction than controls after one year
Stockton SEED participants experienced 12% reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms after 18 months
Kenyan GiveDirectly UBI recipients showed 13% higher happiness scores and 9% lower stress levels after two years
Macroeconomic modeling by Roosevelt Institute estimates U.S. $1,000/month UBI would boost GDP by 12.56% over 8 years
IMF analysis shows UBI funded by carbon tax could increase U.S. GDP by 1-2% annually without inflation
A 2021 study projects EU-wide UBI at 25% of median income adds 1.6% to GDP growth per year
U.S. CBO estimates $3 trillion/year UBI fully funded by taxes grows economy 0.8% long-term, category: Economic Impacts
YouGov poll (2020): 49% of Americans support UBI of $1,000/month, up from 45% pre-COVID
Gallup (2021): 58% of U.S. adults favor government providing basic income to all citizens
UK YouGov (2023): 52% support permanent £1,600/month UBI for adults
Stockton pilot critics noted no significant long-term employment gains beyond 12 months
Finnish UBI trial showed no statistically significant employment increase (p>0.05)

Universal Basic Income trials show economic, health, and well-being improvements globally.

Criticisms

Stockton pilot critics noted no significant long-term employment gains beyond 12 months
Finnish UBI trial showed no statistically significant employment increase (p>0.05)
IMF warns UBI could raise inflation by 2-4% if not properly funded
Heritage Foundation: U.S. $1,000/month UBI costs $3.4 trillion/year, requiring 75% top tax rate
Work disincentive in Iranian program: labor participation fell 2-5% among youth
Oxford economists: UBI may crowd out charity donations by 15-20%
UBI funding via VAT could regressively hit poor by 10% effective tax
Kenyan study: 12-month UBI increased spending but not savings rates
AEI analysis: UBI eliminates welfare cliffs but increases dependency risk by 8%
In Finland, bureaucratic simplification saved only €150 million/year vs UBI €15 billion cost
Tax Foundation: UBI requires doubling federal revenue to $6.8 trillion/year for $12k/person
Brookings: UBI work effects neutral short-term but -2% long-term labor supply
Finnish report: administrative costs €2.5/person/month higher than benefits
Roosevelt UBI model criticized for overestimating multiplier at 1.2 vs empirical 0.6
IMF: Developing country UBI risks 5% fiscal deficit ballooning
Cato: UBI increases poverty traps via phase-outs in hybrids
Heritage: UBI work drop 10-20% per labor econ models
NBER: short-term employment dip 5% in cash transfer programs
Finnish final report: no health cost savings beyond 5%

Criticisms Interpretation

The evidence suggests that while Universal Basic Income is a beautifully simple idea on paper, in practice it appears to be a staggeringly expensive social experiment that yields, at best, modest and fleeting benefits while introducing a host of new economic complications.

Economic Impacts

Macroeconomic modeling by Roosevelt Institute estimates U.S. $1,000/month UBI would boost GDP by 12.56% over 8 years
IMF analysis shows UBI funded by carbon tax could increase U.S. GDP by 1-2% annually without inflation
A 2021 study projects EU-wide UBI at 25% of median income adds 1.6% to GDP growth per year
Iranian cash transfers increased GDP growth by 0.5-1% annually post-2011
U.S. modeling shows $12,000/year UBI reduces poverty by 40% and inequality Gini by 0.05 points
Alaska PFD correlated with 2-3% reduction in earnings inequality statewide
UBI simulations in India suggest 10% GDP boost via multiplier effects from spending
Oxford study: UBI reduces job automation displacement costs by 25% through retraining
Finnish UBI trial cost €20.6 million for 2,000 participants over 2 years, averaging €5,150 per person annually
Roosevelt model assumes 30% consumption multiplier, but critics say real is 0.5-1.0
CBO projects UBI displaces existing programs, netting only 25% poverty reduction
Iranian transfers led to 10% calorie intake rise but 3% obesity increase
Alaska PFD increased consumption by 2.5% but no broad wage growth
UBI in India pilots boosted local GDP 9% but remittances fell 7%
Automation-adjusted UBI costs rise 20% by 2030 per McKinsey
EU UBI at €500/month adds 9 million jobs but 4 million public sector losses
Brazilian program reduced extreme poverty 15% but inequality Gini only 1.5 points
U.S. pilots show 2-5% entrepreneurship rise but 3% hours worked decline
Economic Policy Institute: UBI Gini reduction 25%, but wage compression 5%
World Bank: Cash transfers boost human capital 15% via education
Piketty model: UBI + wealth tax stabilizes inequality at Gini 0.35
Alaska PFD: dividend recipients' consumption elasticity 0.25
EU Commission: UBI viable if sovereign wealth fund grows 7%/year

Economic Impacts Interpretation

From the champagne bubbles in GDP to the sobering hangover of trade-offs, these numbers reveal universal basic income as an economic defibrillator with a tricky instruction manual, delivering a jolt of growth and equality but requiring society to carefully manage its side effects.

Economic Impacts, source url: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57982

U.S. CBO estimates $3 trillion/year UBI fully funded by taxes grows economy 0.8% long-term, category: Economic Impacts

Economic Impacts, source url: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57982 Interpretation

Universal basic income might look like a three-trillion-dollar band-aid, but slapping it on could actually make the economy grow a tiny, persistent bit, like a stubborn but beneficial moss.

Pilot Programs

In the Finnish UBI pilot (2017-2018) involving 2,000 unemployed participants receiving €560 monthly, employment days worked increased by an average of 6 days more than the control group over two years
Stockton, California's SEED program (2019-2021) provided $500 monthly to 125 recipients, resulting in full-time employment rising from 28% to 40% after 12 months
GiveDirectly's UBI study in Kenya (2018-ongoing) with 20,000+ villagers receiving $22.50 monthly found recipients 34% more likely to start a business after 2 years
Iran's nationwide cash transfer program (2011-present), effectively a UBI, reduced poverty by 18% within the first year of implementation
Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (1982-present) averaging $1,600 annually per resident increased part-time employment by 17% among single mothers
GiveDirectly Kenya: 2-year UBI increased assets 58% but livestock little change
Den UBI pilot in Illinois (2022): $500/month to 5,000 families, 12-month employment up 2%
Cambridge UBI trial (2021): £1,600/month to 30 homeless, 80% housed stably after 1 year
Ontario basic income pilot (2017-2018): 4,000 participants, hospital visits down 27%
Stockton: recipients 2x more likely to pay rent on time (98% vs 49%)
Kenya 12-year UBI: earnings 34% higher
Welsh UBI pilot (2022): 500 care leavers £1,600/month, mental health up 20%
In Namibia, malnutrition fell from 50% to 10%
U.S. child allowance (2021 temp UBI-like): child poverty down 30%

Pilot Programs Interpretation

The statistics collectively paint a convincing portrait that when people are granted basic financial security, it rarely leads to idleness and instead often catalyzes a quiet revolution of improved health, greater economic ambition, and profound dignity.

Public Opinion

YouGov poll (2020): 49% of Americans support UBI of $1,000/month, up from 45% pre-COVID
Gallup (2021): 58% of U.S. adults favor government providing basic income to all citizens
UK YouGov (2023): 52% support permanent £1,600/month UBI for adults
Pew Research (2020): 45% of Americans say UBI is good idea, with 63% Democrats vs 29% Republicans
BIEN global survey (2022): 68% of respondents in 20 countries favor UBI introduction
Canadian Angus Reid poll (2021): 58% support $2,000/month UBI during pandemic recovery
German Forsa poll (2020): 55% support €1,200/month UBI
Australian Essential poll (2023): 47% support UBI trial nationally
Finnish poll (2017): 64% public support for expanding UBI experiment
YouGov UK (2021): Support drops to 38% if taxes rise 10%
U.S. Republican support for UBI fell to 22% post-COVID stimulus
French IFOP poll (2020): 55% support but 62% fear work disincentive
YouGov US (2023): 51% support UBI trial, but 67% oppose permanent without cuts elsewhere
Ipsos global (2022): 64% agree UBI needed due to AI job loss
Korean poll (2021): 71% youth support 1M KRW/month UBI
Swiss referendum (2016): 77% rejected UBI but 20% strongly favored
Global poll: 45% fear UBI disincentivizes work
Dutch survey (2022): 60% support €1,000/month UBI
Indian pilot: 63% village support post-trial

Public Opinion Interpretation

The world is flirting with universal basic income—embracing it in theory, yet bracing for the practical realities and political divides that come with such a profound shift in how we provide economic security.

Social Effects

In the Finnish trial, UBI recipients reported 17 percentage points higher life satisfaction than controls after one year
Stockton SEED participants experienced 12% reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms after 18 months
Kenyan GiveDirectly UBI recipients showed 13% higher happiness scores and 9% lower stress levels after two years
A 2020 meta-analysis of 19 UBI pilots found average 5-10% improvement in mental health metrics across diverse populations
In Namibia's Otjivero-Omitara pilot (2008-2009), child school dropout rates fell by 92% with BIG grant of 100 NAD/month
UBI in Finland led to 37% fewer participants needing health services compared to controls
Stockton study showed 11% increase in food security among recipients
Kenyan UBI increased female empowerment index by 21% via asset ownership
Brazilian Bolsa Familia (UBI-like) reduced child labor by 24% nationally
In U.S. pilots, UBI reduced domestic violence reports by up to 15%
Namibia BIG improved nutrition 76% but village-level crime rose 10%
Stockton SEED had 37% health service reduction but no child outcome changes
Kenyan UBI dropped hunger days by 0.3/month but alcohol spending up 5%
In Finland, trust in government rose 8 points among UBI group
UBI meta-review: crime rates drop 8-12% in 14/19 pilots
Iranian program improved female labor force participation by 19%
UBI increases female LFPR 10-15% per ILO
Meta-analysis: UBI reduces teen birth rates 12%
Iranian cash: school enrollment up 6%
Finnish UBI: sleep quality improved 22%

Social Effects Interpretation

The data suggests universal basic income acts as a societal shock absorber, consistently buffering mental health and empowering individuals, though its local effects—like a slight bump in village crime or alcohol spending—remind us that cash grants solve for stress, not for saints.

Sources & References

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