Pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia

Australia: Pay compression ratio in private sector was 12.0% in 2015. ▼ Falling

Latest (2015)
12.0%
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
3rd
of 60 countries
All-time high
13.0%
in 2004
All-time low
10.3%
in 2008
Years of data
14
2002–2015

Pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia, 2002–2015

0510152002200820152002: 12.2 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2003: 12.5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2004: 13 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2005: 12.5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2006: 11.1 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2007: 10.6 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2008: 10.3 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2009: 11.5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2010: 11.1 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2011: 11.4 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2012: 10.9 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2013: 12.1 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2014: 11.5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2015: 12 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners

Source: World Bank. Measured in ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners.

Analysis

The most recent figure for pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia is 12.0%, measured in 2015.

The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia peaked at 13.0% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 2008.

Australia ranks 3rd of 60 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Pay compression ratio in private sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners) in Australia, 2002 to 2015.
Year ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners Change
2002 12.2%
2003 12.5% +2.6%
2004 13.0% +3.7%
2005 12.5% -3.6%
2006 11.1% -11.1%
2007 10.6% -4.3%
2008 10.3% -2.7%
2009 11.5% +11.5%
2010 11.1% -3.6%
2011 11.4% +3.0%
2012 10.9% -4.3%
2013 12.1% +10.8%
2014 11.5% -4.9%
2015 12.0% +4.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.7% 10.3% 13.0% 8
2010s 11.5% 10.9% 12.1% 6

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 1 Namibia 25.0% compare
  2. 2 South Africa 17.5% compare
  3. 4 Georgia 10.2% compare
  4. 5 Ethiopia 10.0% compare
  5. 5 Honduras 10.0% compare
  6. 5 Zambia 10.0% compare

See the full ranking of 60 places →

More reference data data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia?
Pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia was 12.0% in 2015, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest pay compression ratio in private sector recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 2004.
What is the lowest pay compression ratio in private sector recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 2008.
How does Australia rank for pay compression ratio in private sector?
Australia ranks 3rd out of 60 countries with data for 2015.
Is pay compression ratio in private sector rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Pay compression ratio in private sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

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Pay compression ratio in private sector in Australia. Statizoid. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/pay-compression-ratio-in-private-sector-ratio-of-90th-10th-percentile-earners/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Pay compression ratio in private sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners)
Unit
ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
60 places, 741 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed