A similar pattern is seen in the next to lowest income group,from 3.5 to 3.8 to 4 per 1,000. 

同样的情况也出现在贴近收入最低的人群中，从3.5‰到3.8‰到4‰。

next to修饰lowest income group

next to紧靠…旁边;在…近旁;贴近

(1)next to+名词

She sat down next to him on the sofa.  

她紧挨着他在沙发上坐下了。

at the southern end of the Gaza Strip next to the Egyptian border. 

在紧靠埃及边境的加沙地带南端

(2)next to the lowest

I got next to the lowest score in the class.  

我的成绩是全班第二低的.

The World Bank expects the country's growth rate next year to the lowest in 20 years - 7.5 %. 

世界银行预期中国明年的经济增长率将下降到7.5%,这是她在20年来最低的增长率.

Next year the rate may well fall to 5.5 % or less, the lowest since 2002. 明年,增长率可能降至5.5%甚至更低, 达到2002年以来的最低点.