Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in Australia
Australia: Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax was 24.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in Australia, 1981–2020
Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in Australia stood at 24.6%.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in Australia peaked at 25.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 20.7%, in 1981.
Australia ranks 18th of 48 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 20.7% | — |
| 1985 | 21.6% | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 22.4% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 22.8% | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 23.6% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 23.0% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 23.9% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 25.7% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 25.1% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 25.5% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 24.7% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 25.2% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 24.6% | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.6% | 20.7% | 22.4% | 3 |
| 1990s | 22.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 24.1% | 23.0% | 25.7% | 4 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 24.7% | 25.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 24.6% | 24.6% | 24.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Services, value added (constant LCU), per capita 65,294 constant LCU per person (2025)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 2.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9365 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 60,991 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.45 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 94,238 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in Australia?
- Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in Australia was 24.6% in 2020, according to Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 10% before and after tax recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 10% before and after tax recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.7% in 1981.
- How does Australia rank for income share of the richest 10% before and after tax?
- Australia ranks 18th out of 48 countries with data for 2020.
- Is income share of the richest 10% before and after tax rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest decile (tenth of the population).