Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank was 9.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in United Kingdom, 1982–2021
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in United Kingdom is 9.0%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in United Kingdom peaked at 10.6% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 1982.
United Kingdom ranks 86th of 109 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 4.9% | — |
| 1983 | 5.0% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 5.2% | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 5.3% | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 5.4% | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 5.6% | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 6.1% | +9.3% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 7.2% | +19.1% |
| 1991 | 7.3% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 7.2% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 8.0% | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 7.7% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | +20.3% |
| 1997 | 9.5% | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 8.6% | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 8.1% | -5.7% |
| 2001 | 8.1% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 8.4% | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 9.1% | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 9.7% | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 10.6% | +15.9% |
| 2007 | 10.5% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | -18.8% |
| 2009 | 8.8% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | -19.4% |
| 2011 | 7.6% | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 9.0% | +18.0% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 8.2% | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | +14.4% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 8.6% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | +3.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 9.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.1%, 98% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 9.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.9%, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.5% | 4.9% | 6.1% | 8 |
| 1990s | 8.1% | 7.2% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.1% | 8.1% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 7.0% | 9.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 8.6% | 9.0% | 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 income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in United Kingdom?
- Income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in United Kingdom was 9.0% in 2021, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 10.6% in 2006.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 1982.
- How does United Kingdom rank for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank?
- United Kingdom ranks 86th out of 109 countries with data for 2021.
- Is income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. 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 Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured after taxes and benefits.