Palma ratio in Japan
Japan: Palma ratio was 1.23 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Palma ratio in Japan, 2008–2020
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for palma ratio in Japan is 1.23, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio in Japan peaked at 1.38 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.13, in 2015.
That places Japan 80th out of 120 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Palma ratio in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1.38 | — |
| 2009 | 1.27 | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 1.17 | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 1.26 | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 1.23 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.17 | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 1.16 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 1.13 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 1.18 | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 1.19 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.25 | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 1.26 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 1.23 | -2.8% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 1.23 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.23, 99% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Japan's 1.23 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.42, 86% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.33 | 1.27 | 1.38 | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.2 | 1.13 | 1.26 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.23 | 1.23 | 1.23 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 77 United Kingdom 1.25 compare
- 78 Cyprus 1.24 compare
- 79 Uzbekistan 1.23
- 81 Taiwan 1.21 compare
- 82 France 1.21 compare
- 83 Mauritania 1.21 compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is palma ratio in Japan?
- Palma ratio in Japan was 1.23 in 2020, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest palma ratio recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.38 in 2008.
- What is the lowest palma ratio recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.13 in 2015.
- How does Japan rank for palma ratio?
- Japan ranks 80th out of 120 countries with data for 2020.
- Is palma ratio rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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 Palma ratio. 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
The Palma ratio is a measure of inequality that divides the share received by the richest 10% by the share of the poorest 40%. Higher values indicate higher inequality.