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
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.
Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) in Australia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 961.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1985 | 954.1 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 949.04 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 894.46 international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 977.87 international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 989.15 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 1,104 international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.6% |
| 2008 | 1,287 international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.6% |
| 2010 | 1,298 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 1,452 international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 1,455 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 1,426 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,118 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1,481 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,032 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.4× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 9 Denmark 1,608 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 10 Ireland 1,558 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 11 Finland 1,485 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 13 United States 1,439 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 14 United Kingdom 1,436 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 15 Germany 1,367 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Level of income per month below which 10% of the population falls.