Palma ratio (before tax) in Hong Kong

Hong Kong: Palma ratio (before tax) was 5.54 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
5.54
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
32nd
of 113 countries
All-time high
6.09
in 2011
All-time low
3.4
in 1986
Years of data
11
1981–2024

Palma ratio (before tax) in Hong Kong, 1981–2024

02461981200220241981: 3.41986: 3.41991: 4.11996: 3.82001: 4.52006: 62011: 6.12016: 5.52022: 5.52023: 5.52024: 5.5

Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2024, palma ratio (before tax) in Hong Kong stood at 5.54.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, palma ratio (before tax) in Hong Kong peaked at 6.09 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.4, in 1986.

Hong Kong ranks 32nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 3.41 3.4 3.43 2
1990s 3.97 3.79 4.15 2
2000s 5.24 4.48 6 2
2010s 5.82 5.54 6.09 2
2020s 5.54 5.54 5.54 3

Countries ranked near Hong Kong

  1. 29 Rwanda 5.92 compare
  2. 30 Laos 5.83 compare
  3. 31 Israel 5.82 compare
  4. 33 Kenya 5.49 compare
  5. 34 United States 5.47 compare
  6. 35 Georgia 5.44 compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Hong Kong

All data for Hong Kong →

Frequently asked questions

What is palma ratio (before tax) in Hong Kong?
Palma ratio (before tax) in Hong Kong was 5.54 in 2024, 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 Hong Kong?
The highest recorded value was 6.09 in 2011.
What is the lowest palma ratio (before tax) recorded in Hong Kong?
The lowest recorded value was 3.4 in 1986.
How does Hong Kong rank for palma ratio (before tax)?
Hong Kong ranks 32nd out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
Is palma ratio (before tax) rising or falling in Hong Kong?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Hong Kong 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Palma ratio (before tax)
Source
World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
113 places, 3,075 data points, 1820–2024
Last refreshed

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.