Pay compression ratio in public sector in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Pay compression ratio in public sector was 5.4% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
5.4%
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
20th
of 60 countries
All-time high
6.7%
in 2008
All-time low
5.3%
in 2015
Years of data
12
2005–2016

Pay compression ratio in public sector in United Kingdom, 2005–2016

02462005201020162005: 6.3 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2006: 5.9 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2007: 5.8 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2008: 6.7 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2009: 6.2 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2010: 6.1 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2011: 5.8 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2012: 5.5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2013: 5.6 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2014: 5.6 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2015: 5.3 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2016: 5.4 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 public sector in United Kingdom is 5.4%, measured in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pay compression ratio in public sector in United Kingdom peaked at 6.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2015.

That places United Kingdom 20th out of 60 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Pay compression ratio in public sector in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Pay compression ratio in public sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners) in United Kingdom, 2005 to 2016.
Year ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners Change
2005 6.3%
2006 5.9% -6.2%
2007 5.8% -1.3%
2008 6.7% +15.8%
2009 6.2% -8.5%
2010 6.1% -1.1%
2011 5.8% -4.2%
2012 5.5% -5.0%
2013 5.6% +0.4%
2014 5.6% +1.1%
2015 5.3% -5.4%
2016 5.4% +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 6.2% 5.8% 6.7% 5
2010s 5.6% 5.3% 6.1% 7

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 17 Philippines 5.5% compare
  2. 18 Chile 5.5% compare
  3. 19 Luxembourg 5.4% compare
  4. 21 France 5.4% compare
  5. 22 Hungary 5.3% compare
  6. 23 Bulgaria 5.2% compare

See the full ranking of 60 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is pay compression ratio in public sector in United Kingdom?
Pay compression ratio in public sector in United Kingdom was 5.4% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest pay compression ratio in public sector recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 2008.
What is the lowest pay compression ratio in public sector recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2015.
How does United Kingdom rank for pay compression ratio in public sector?
United Kingdom ranks 20th out of 60 countries with data for 2016.
Is pay compression ratio in public sector rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Pay compression ratio in public sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Pay compression ratio in public sector in United Kingdom. Statizoid. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/pay-compression-ratio-in-public-sector-ratio-of-90th-10th-percentile-earners/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Pay compression ratio in public 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