The divide between rich and poor is growing in Australia, according to a new national survey which found more than a quarter of households have experienced a drop in income.

But wealthier Australians were most likely to be getting richer.

The latest Household Financial Comfort Report of 1500 Australians to be released on Monday found almost one in two (or 46 per cent) households with incomes of more than $100,000 reported income gains, compared with 17 per cent of households earning under $40,000.

And 41 per cent of households earning less than $40,000 reported income losses, compared with only 13 per cent of those earning over $100,000.