Wealth share of the richest 1% in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Wealth share of the richest 1% was 21.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
21.3%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
209th
of 215 countries
All-time high
72.8%
in 1896
All-time low
17.8%
in 1984
Years of data
125
1820–2024
Wealth share of the richest 1% in United Kingdom, 1820–2024
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 21.3% for wealth share of the richest 1% in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wealth share of the richest 1% in United Kingdom peaked at 72.8% in 1896 and was at its lowest, 17.8%, in 1984.
That places United Kingdom 209th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 125 years of available data.
Wealth share of the richest 1% in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 68.0% | — |
| 1850 | 68.7% | +1.1% |
| 1880 | 72.0% | +4.8% |
| 1895 | 72.1% | +0.1% |
| 1896 | 72.8% | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 72.0% | -1.2% |
| 1898 | 72.3% | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 70.9% | -2.0% |
| 1900 | 71.6% | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 70.9% | -1.0% |
| 1902 | 71.8% | +1.2% |
| 1903 | 71.0% | -1.0% |
| 1904 | 71.8% | +1.1% |
| 1905 | 72.5% | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 70.4% | -2.9% |
| 1907 | 69.9% | -0.7% |
| 1908 | 69.6% | -0.4% |
| 1909 | 70.2% | +0.9% |
| 1910 | 68.5% | -2.5% |
| 1911 | 68.9% | +0.6% |
| 1912 | 69.4% | +0.8% |
| 1913 | 67.6% | -2.6% |
| 1914 | 69.8% | +3.3% |
| 1919 | 62.4% | -10.7% |
| 1920 | 59.3% | -4.9% |
| 1921 | 60.8% | +2.5% |
| 1922 | 61.9% | +1.7% |
| 1923 | 59.6% | -3.6% |
| 1924 | 59.7% | +0.2% |
| 1925 | 59.2% | -0.9% |
| 1926 | 58.0% | -2.0% |
| 1927 | 59.8% | +3.1% |
| 1928 | 57.7% | -3.5% |
| 1929 | 58.0% | +0.6% |
| 1930 | 57.6% | -0.8% |
| 1931 | 55.6% | -3.5% |
| 1932 | 55.5% | -0.1% |
| 1933 | 56.5% | +1.8% |
| 1934 | 55.9% | -1.1% |
| 1935 | 56.1% | +0.4% |
| 1936 | 57.0% | +1.6% |
| 1937 | 55.8% | -2.1% |
| 1938 | 55.4% | -0.6% |
| 1939 | 53.6% | -3.2% |
| 1940 | 53.5% | -0.1% |
| 1941 | 52.5% | -1.9% |
| 1946 | 49.7% | -5.3% |
| 1947 | 48.3% | -3.0% |
| 1948 | 47.7% | -1.2% |
| 1949 | 46.8% | -1.9% |
| 1950 | 45.1% | -3.6% |
| 1951 | 44.2% | -1.9% |
| 1952 | 41.3% | -6.7% |
| 1953 | 42.5% | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 45.0% | +5.9% |
| 1955 | 41.0% | -8.7% |
| 1956 | 41.3% | +0.6% |
| 1957 | 39.1% | -5.3% |
| 1958 | 38.0% | -2.9% |
| 1959 | 39.3% | +3.6% |
| 1960 | 38.6% | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 37.6% | -2.7% |
| 1962 | 36.3% | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 36.6% | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 36.2% | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 35.0% | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 33.0% | -5.7% |
| 1967 | 33.8% | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 34.1% | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 31.2% | -8.6% |
| 1970 | 30.7% | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 30.5% | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 31.0% | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 28.3% | -8.5% |
| 1974 | 26.8% | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 25.4% | -5.2% |
| 1976 | 26.0% | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 23.8% | -8.7% |
| 1978 | 24.3% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 20.9% | -14.3% |
| 1980 | 21.1% | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 20.4% | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 19.9% | -2.6% |
| 1983 | 20.1% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 17.8% | -11.6% |
| 1985 | 18.6% | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 18.8% | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 19.2% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 18.0% | -6.2% |
| 1989 | 19.2% | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 18.7% | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 18.3% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 19.6% | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 20.3% | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 20.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 18.6% | -8.3% |
| 1996 | 19.0% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 20.8% | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 21.2% | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 20.4% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 20.4% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 20.4% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 20.0% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 18.8% | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 19.3% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 20.2% | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 20.5% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 20.6% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 20.2% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 20.1% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 20.0% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 20.3% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 20.7% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 22.6% | +9.2% |
| 2014 | 22.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 21.4% | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 21.3% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 21.2% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 21.3% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 21.1% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 20.9% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 21.1% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 21.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 21.3% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 21.3% | +0.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 21.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 27.5%, 77% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 21.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.1%, 88% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 68.0% | 68.0% | 68.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 68.7% | 68.7% | 68.7% | 1 |
| 1880s | 72.0% | 72.0% | 72.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 72.0% | 70.9% | 72.8% | 5 |
| 1900s | 71.0% | 69.6% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 1910s | 67.8% | 62.4% | 69.8% | 6 |
| 1920s | 59.4% | 57.7% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 1930s | 55.9% | 53.6% | 57.6% | 10 |
| 1940s | 49.8% | 46.8% | 53.5% | 6 |
| 1950s | 41.7% | 38.0% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 35.2% | 31.2% | 38.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 26.8% | 20.9% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.3% | 17.8% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.7% | 18.3% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 18.8% | 20.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 20.0% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.2% | 20.9% | 21.3% | 5 |
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 wealth share of the richest 1% in United Kingdom?
- Wealth share of the richest 1% in United Kingdom was 21.3% in 2024, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest wealth share of the richest 1% recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 72.8% in 1896.
- What is the lowest wealth share of the richest 1% recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.8% in 1984.
- How does United Kingdom rank for wealth share of the richest 1%?
- United Kingdom ranks 209th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is wealth share of the richest 1% rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Wealth share of the richest 1%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 125 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of wealth owned by the richest 1% of the population. Wealth is defined as the total value of non-financial and financial assets (housing, land, deposits, bonds, equities, etc.) held by households, minus their debts.