Germany vs United States: Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax)
Germany
1,367 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2022
United States
1,439 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2024
Germany rank
15th
United States rank
13th
Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) over time
- Germany
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 1,439 international-$ in 2021 prices against 1,367 international-$ in 2021 prices in Germany, a difference of 72 international-$ in 2021 prices.
That makes United States's figure about 1.1 times Germany's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1973 it was Germany ahead.
Germany ranks 15th and United States ranks 13th of 47 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Germany averaged higher in 5 and United States in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Germany | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,467 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1,053 international-$ in 2021 prices | 414.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | Germany |
| 1980s | 1,390 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1,041 international-$ in 2021 prices | 349.41 international-$ in 2021 prices | Germany |
| 1990s | 1,408 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1,121 international-$ in 2021 prices | 287.87 international-$ in 2021 prices | Germany |
| 2000s | 1,386 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1,217 international-$ in 2021 prices | 169.75 international-$ in 2021 prices | Germany |
| 2010s | 1,382 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1,276 international-$ in 2021 prices | 106.03 international-$ in 2021 prices | Germany |
| 2020s | 1,428 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1,531 international-$ in 2021 prices | 102.42 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax), Germany or United States?
- United States, at 1,439 international-$ in 2021 prices against 1,367 international-$ in 2021 prices in Germany as of 2024.
- What is the difference in threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) between Germany and United States?
- 72 international-$ in 2021 prices, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and United States?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1973 to 2022.
- How do Germany and United States rank globally for threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax)?
- Germany ranks 15th and United States ranks 13th of 47 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Level of income per month below which 10% of the population falls.