Palma ratio in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Palma ratio was 1.25 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Palma ratio in United Kingdom, 1968–2021
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 United Kingdom is 1.25, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio in United Kingdom peaked at 1.76 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.9475, in 1977.
That places United Kingdom 77th out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Palma ratio in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 0.9481 | — |
| 1969 | 1 | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 1 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 1.07 | +6.6% |
| 1972 | 1.03 | -4.0% |
| 1973 | 1.04 | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 1.05 | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 0.9878 | -5.7% |
| 1976 | 0.9696 | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 0.9475 | -2.3% |
| 1978 | 0.9509 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 0.9555 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 1.01 | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 1.08 | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 1.09 | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 1.09 | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 1.05 | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 1.12 | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 1.22 | +9.5% |
| 1987 | 1.35 | +10.3% |
| 1988 | 1.37 | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.3 | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 1.48 | +13.5% |
| 1991 | 1.41 | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 1.41 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.43 | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 1.5 | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 1.46 | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 1.45 | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 1.48 | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 1.56 | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 1.57 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 1.76 | +11.7% |
| 2001 | 1.6 | -8.9% |
| 2002 | 1.45 | -9.4% |
| 2003 | 1.42 | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 1.42 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 1.47 | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 1.5 | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.39 | -7.9% |
| 2008 | 1.46 | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 1.44 | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 1.34 | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 1.3 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 1.29 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 1.26 | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 1.29 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.31 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 1.29 | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 1.25 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 1.33 | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 1.27 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 1.25 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 1.25 | -0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.25 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.23, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.25 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.13, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9747 | 0.9481 | 1 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.9996 | 0.9475 | 1.07 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.17 | 1.01 | 1.37 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.47 | 1.41 | 1.57 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.49 | 1.39 | 1.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.29 | 1.25 | 1.34 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 74 South Korea 1.27 compare
- 75 North Macedonia 1.26 compare
- 76 Serbia 1.26 compare
- 78 Cyprus 1.24 compare
- 79 Uzbekistan 1.23
- 80 Japan 1.23 compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is palma ratio in United Kingdom?
- Palma ratio in United Kingdom was 1.25 in 2021, 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.76 in 2000.
- What is the lowest palma ratio recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9475 in 1977.
- How does United Kingdom rank for palma ratio?
- United Kingdom ranks 77th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is palma ratio rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 54 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.