Palma ratio in United States
United States: Palma ratio was 2.03 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Palma ratio in United States, 1963–2024
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, palma ratio in United States stood at 2.03.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio in United States peaked at 2.05 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.38, in 1978.
United States ranks 21st of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 62 years of available data.
Palma ratio in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 1.53 | — |
| 1964 | 1.59 | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 1.54 | -3.0% |
| 1966 | 1.56 | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 1.54 | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 1.5 | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 1.48 | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 1.52 | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 1.55 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 1.53 | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 1.48 | -2.9% |
| 1974 | 1.43 | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 1.44 | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 1.44 | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 1.43 | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 1.38 | -4.1% |
| 1979 | 1.38 | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 1.38 | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 1.43 | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 1.53 | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 1.58 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 1.59 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 1.61 | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 1.6 | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 1.57 | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 1.62 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 1.67 | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.66 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 1.69 | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 1.89 | +12.0% |
| 1994 | 1.85 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 1.84 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 1.88 | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 1.91 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 1.85 | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 1.85 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 1.87 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.92 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 1.89 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 1.93 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 1.91 | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 1.98 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 2.03 | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 1.97 | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 1.96 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 1.94 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.87 | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 1.97 | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 1.97 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 1.94 | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 2.01 | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 1.99 | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.98 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.99 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 2.04 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 2.05 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 1.85 | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 1.82 | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 2.03 | +11.3% |
| 2023 | 2.04 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 2.03 | -0.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.03 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.23, 1.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.53 | 1.48 | 1.59 | 7 |
| 1970s | 1.46 | 1.38 | 1.55 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.56 | 1.38 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.81 | 1.66 | 1.91 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.94 | 1.87 | 2.03 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.98 | 1.87 | 2.05 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.95 | 1.82 | 2.04 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is palma ratio in United States?
- Palma ratio in United States was 2.03 in 2024, 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 2.05 in 2019.
- What is the lowest palma ratio recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.38 in 1978.
- How does United States rank for palma ratio?
- United States ranks 21st out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is palma ratio rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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 — 62 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.