Palma ratio (before tax) in China
China: Palma ratio (before tax) was 5.02 in 2015. ▲ Rising
Palma ratio (before tax) in China, 1979–2015
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2015, palma ratio (before tax) in China stood at 5.02.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio (before tax) in China peaked at 5.38 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.84, in 1979.
China ranks 45th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Palma ratio (before tax) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 1.84 | — |
| 1980 | 1.86 | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 1.91 | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 1.98 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 1.96 | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 2.02 | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 2.11 | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 2.27 | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 2.31 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 2.36 | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 2.47 | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 2.43 | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 2.64 | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 2.87 | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 3.13 | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 3.24 | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 3.13 | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 3.03 | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 3.03 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 3.04 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 3.21 | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 3.54 | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 3.75 | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 4.39 | +17.3% |
| 2003 | 4.62 | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 4.69 | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 5.06 | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 5.09 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 5.18 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 5.2 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 5.22 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 5.38 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 5.29 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 4.96 | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 5.24 | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 5 | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 5.02 | +0.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 5.02 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.27, 95% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- China's 5.02 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.77, 1.1× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.84 | 1.84 | 1.84 | 1 |
| 1980s | 2.13 | 1.86 | 2.47 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.98 | 2.43 | 3.24 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.68 | 3.54 | 5.22 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.15 | 4.96 | 5.38 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 42 Burkina Faso 5.08 compare
- 43 Togo 5.07 compare
- 44 Burundi 5.05 compare
- 46 Mauritius 4.91 compare
- 47 Philippines 4.88 compare
- 48 Madagascar 4.86 compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is palma ratio (before tax) in China?
- Palma ratio (before tax) in China was 5.02 in 2015, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest palma ratio (before tax) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.38 in 2010.
- What is the lowest palma ratio (before tax) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.84 in 1979.
- How does China rank for palma ratio (before tax)?
- China ranks 45th out of 113 countries with data for 2015.
- Is palma ratio (before tax) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Palma ratio (before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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. Inequality is measured here in terms of income before taxes and benefits.