If the distribution of income had remained unchanged, the same observed decline in poverty would have required average incomes to rise by 89%, instead of the 32% observed between 2001 and 2011 (IPEA, 2012). Between 2002 and 2012 the middle class increased by 14% of the population. This increase is the net result of 21% of the population joining the middle class, and 7% leaving it - the vast majority of which upward.