Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) in Australia

Australia: Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) was 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
12th
of 47 countries
All-time high
1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2020
All-time low
894.46 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1995
Years of data
13
1981–2020

Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) in Australia, 1981–2020

05001.0k1.5k1981200020201981: 961.7 international-$ in 2021 prices1985: 954.1 international-$ in 2021 prices1989: 949 international-$ in 2021 prices1995: 894.5 international-$ in 2021 prices2001: 977.9 international-$ in 2021 prices2003: 989.1 international-$ in 2021 prices2004: 1.1k international-$ in 2021 prices2008: 1.3k international-$ in 2021 prices2010: 1.3k international-$ in 2021 prices2014: 1.5k international-$ in 2021 prices2016: 1.5k international-$ in 2021 prices2018: 1.4k international-$ in 2021 prices2020: 1.5k international-$ in 2021 prices

Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.

Analysis

In 2020, threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) in Australia stood at 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 14.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) in Australia peaked at 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 894.46 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1995.

Australia ranks 12th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 954.95 international-$ in 2021 prices 949.04 international-$ in 2021 prices 961.72 international-$ in 2021 prices 3
1990s 894.46 international-$ in 2021 prices 894.46 international-$ in 2021 prices 894.46 international-$ in 2021 prices 1
2000s 1,089 international-$ in 2021 prices 977.87 international-$ in 2021 prices 1,287 international-$ in 2021 prices 4
2010s 1,408 international-$ in 2021 prices 1,298 international-$ in 2021 prices 1,455 international-$ in 2021 prices 4
2020s 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices 1

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 9 Denmark 1,608 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  2. 11 Finland 1,485 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  3. 13 United States 1,439 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  4. 14 Germany 1,367 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  5. 15 Sweden 1,362 international-$ in 2021 prices compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More reference data data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) in Australia?
Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) in Australia was 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020, according to Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020.
What is the lowest threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 894.46 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1995.
How does Australia rank for threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax)?
Australia ranks 12th out of 47 countries with data for 2020.
Is threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax)
Unit
international-$ in 2021 prices
Source
Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
47 places, 1,030 data points, 1963–2024
Last refreshed

The level of income per month below which 10% of the population falls.