The average annual income of Diet members stood at ¥25.8 million in 2007, up ¥1.39 million from the previous year for the third straight annual increase, the Upper and Lower houses said June 30.

The average income of Lower House members came to ¥27.03 million while that of House of Councilors members stood at ¥22.35 million.

By party, DPJ lawmakers came out on top with an average of ¥30.44 million, up from third place in 2006, followed by Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party), at ¥27.06 million.

The average income of LDP lawmakers came in third at ¥24.71 million, followed by the Social Democratic Party at ¥21.76 million, New Komeito at ¥20.41 million and the Japanese Communist Party at ¥19.89 million.

The Liberal Democratic Party had topped the list for eight consecutive years up to 2006, but it lost first place to the Democratic Party of Japan due to drops in profits from real estate and stock sales.

However, among 17 income earners who took in ¥50 million or more, 13 were LDP lawmakers and only four were from the DPJ.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda earned ¥27.2 million in income in 2007 and was the top earner among the heads of the political parties.

Fukuda's income grew by ¥3.76 million from the 2006 level, according to the report on lawmakers' income. His salaries as prime minister and lawmaker totaled ¥23.22 million.

Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the DPJ, fell to fifth last year from second in 2006, with his income decreasing by ¥27.19 million year on year to ¥20.59 million.