Palma ratio (before tax) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Palma ratio (before tax) was 2.69 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Palma ratio (before tax) in United Kingdom, 1982–2021
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, palma ratio (before tax) in United Kingdom stood at 2.69.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio (before tax) in United Kingdom peaked at 3.38 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.94, in 1982.
United Kingdom ranks 92nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Palma ratio (before tax) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 1.94 | — |
| 1983 | 1.99 | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 2.07 | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 2.11 | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 2.13 | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 2.18 | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 2.28 | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 2.27 | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 2.61 | +15.2% |
| 1991 | 2.71 | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 2.71 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.79 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 2.73 | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 2.86 | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 2.95 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 2.94 | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 3.03 | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 3.09 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 2.95 | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 3.01 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 3.04 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 3.22 | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 3.08 | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 3.24 | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 3.31 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 3.22 | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 3.07 | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 3.38 | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 2.7 | -20.1% |
| 2011 | 2.82 | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 3 | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 2.73 | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 2.7 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 2.67 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 2.71 | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 2.67 | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.67 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.69 | +1.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 2.69 is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.75, 98% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 2.69 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.68, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.12 | 1.94 | 2.28 | 8 |
| 1990s | 2.84 | 2.61 | 3.09 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.15 | 2.95 | 3.38 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.75 | 2.67 | 3 | 8 |
| 2020s | 2.68 | 2.67 | 2.69 | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
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 (before tax) in United Kingdom?
- Palma ratio (before tax) in United Kingdom was 2.69 in 2021, 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3.38 in 2009.
- What is the lowest palma ratio (before tax) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.94 in 1982.
- How does United Kingdom rank for palma ratio (before tax)?
- United Kingdom ranks 92nd out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is palma ratio (before tax) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 38 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. Inequality is measured here in terms of income before taxes and benefits.