Palma ratio (before tax) in United States
United States: Palma ratio (before tax) was 5.47 in 2024. ▬ Flat
Palma ratio (before tax) in United States, 1913–2024
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for palma ratio (before tax) in United States is 5.47, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio (before tax) in United States peaked at 5.81 in 1934 and was at its lowest, 2.4, in 1974.
That places United States 34th out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Palma ratio (before tax) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 4.44 | — |
| 1914 | 4.57 | +2.9% |
| 1915 | 4.42 | -3.2% |
| 1916 | 4.7 | +6.2% |
| 1917 | 4.8 | +2.2% |
| 1918 | 4.64 | -3.4% |
| 1919 | 4.98 | +7.4% |
| 1920 | 3.87 | -22.3% |
| 1921 | 5.33 | +37.9% |
| 1922 | 5.05 | -5.3% |
| 1923 | 4.57 | -9.6% |
| 1924 | 5.03 | +10.2% |
| 1925 | 5.35 | +6.3% |
| 1926 | 5.47 | +2.2% |
| 1927 | 5.33 | -2.5% |
| 1928 | 5.58 | +4.6% |
| 1929 | 5.29 | -5.1% |
| 1930 | 4.34 | -18.0% |
| 1931 | 5.22 | +20.4% |
| 1932 | 5.7 | +9.2% |
| 1933 | 5.62 | -1.4% |
| 1934 | 5.81 | +3.3% |
| 1935 | 5.42 | -6.7% |
| 1936 | 5.43 | +0.2% |
| 1937 | 5.26 | -3.1% |
| 1938 | 5.17 | -1.8% |
| 1939 | 5.48 | +6.1% |
| 1940 | 4.49 | -18.0% |
| 1941 | 5.05 | +12.5% |
| 1942 | 3.55 | -29.8% |
| 1943 | 3.07 | -13.6% |
| 1944 | 2.72 | -11.4% |
| 1945 | 3.9 | +43.8% |
| 1946 | 3.63 | -7.1% |
| 1947 | 3.62 | -0.2% |
| 1948 | 3.69 | +2.0% |
| 1949 | 3.73 | +0.9% |
| 1950 | 3.11 | -16.5% |
| 1951 | 3.33 | +7.1% |
| 1952 | 3.09 | -7.4% |
| 1953 | 2.96 | -4.0% |
| 1954 | 3.12 | +5.4% |
| 1955 | 3.13 | +0.1% |
| 1956 | 2.96 | -5.4% |
| 1957 | 2.98 | +0.6% |
| 1958 | 3.15 | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 3.25 | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 2.74 | -15.8% |
| 1961 | 3.37 | +23.0% |
| 1962 | 2.89 | -14.1% |
| 1963 | 3.02 | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 3.13 | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 3.02 | -3.6% |
| 1966 | 2.91 | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 2.57 | -11.8% |
| 1968 | 2.6 | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 2.41 | -7.1% |
| 1970 | 2.4 | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 2.53 | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 2.59 | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 2.56 | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 2.4 | -6.2% |
| 1975 | 2.51 | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 2.49 | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 2.55 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 2.54 | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 2.54 | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 2.56 | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 2.65 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 2.77 | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 3 | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 3.16 | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 3.2 | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 3.24 | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 3.39 | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 3.66 | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 3.59 | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 3.63 | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 3.63 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 3.94 | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 3.88 | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 3.85 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 4.04 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 4.2 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 4.35 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 4.37 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 4.46 | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 4.53 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 4.36 | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 4.28 | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 4.4 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 4.59 | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 4.86 | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 5.04 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 4.91 | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 4.87 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 4.8 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 5.06 | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 5.28 | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 5.62 | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 5.35 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 5.57 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 5.52 | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 5.68 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 5.41 | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 5.53 | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 5.37 | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 5.18 | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 5.41 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 5.54 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 5.47 | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 5.47 | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 5.47 is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.75, 2.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Palma ratio (before tax) in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | +43.8% | 2.72 | 3.9 |
| 1921 | +37.9% | 3.87 | 5.33 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 4.65 | 4.42 | 4.98 | 7 |
| 1920s | 5.09 | 3.87 | 5.58 | 10 |
| 1930s | 5.35 | 4.34 | 5.81 | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.74 | 2.72 | 5.05 | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.11 | 2.96 | 3.33 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.87 | 2.41 | 3.37 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.51 | 2.4 | 2.59 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.12 | 2.56 | 3.66 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.04 | 3.63 | 4.46 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.66 | 4.28 | 5.04 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.44 | 5.06 | 5.68 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.41 | 5.18 | 5.54 | 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 (before tax) in United States?
- Palma ratio (before tax) in United States was 5.47 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 5.81 in 1934.
- What is the lowest palma ratio (before tax) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4 in 1974.
- How does United States rank for palma ratio (before tax)?
- United States ranks 34th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is palma ratio (before tax) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States 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 — 112 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.