Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Australia
Australia: Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile was 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
15th
of 120 countries
All-time high
855.72 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2014
All-time low
497.48 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1995
Years of data
13
1981–2020
Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Australia, 1981–2020
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Australia is 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Australia peaked at 855.72 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2014 and was at its lowest, 497.48 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1995.
Australia ranks 15th of 120 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 or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Australia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 513.93 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1985 | 522.91 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 525.41 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 497.48 international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 567.52 international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.1% |
| 2003 | 582.63 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 660.36 international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 778.3 international-$ in 2021 prices | +17.9% |
| 2010 | 782.52 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 855.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 827.93 international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 814.22 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 697.69 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Australia's 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 188.81 international-$ in 2021 prices, 4.5× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 520.75 international-$ in 2021 prices | 513.93 international-$ in 2021 prices | 525.41 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
| 1990s | 497.48 international-$ in 2021 prices | 497.48 international-$ in 2021 prices | 497.48 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
| 2000s | 647.2 international-$ in 2021 prices | 567.52 international-$ in 2021 prices | 778.3 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2010s | 820.1 international-$ in 2021 prices | 782.52 international-$ in 2021 prices | 855.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2020s | 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices | 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices | 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 12 Cyprus 856.07 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 13 Germany 853.13 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 14 Ireland 843.11 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 16 Malta 820 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 17 France 801.68 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 18 Sweden 793.64 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 or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Australia?
- Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Australia was 842.35 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 855.72 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2014.
- What is the lowest threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 497.48 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1995.
- How does Australia rank for threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile?
- Australia ranks 15th out of 120 countries with data for 2020.
- Is threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Level of income or consumption per month below which 10% of the population falls.