Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax was 23.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1968–2021
Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 23.5%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 28.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 20.1%, in 1979.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 28th of 48 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 20.4% | — |
| 1969 | 21.0% | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 20.9% | -0.6% |
| 1971 | 21.7% | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 20.7% | -4.5% |
| 1973 | 21.3% | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 21.4% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 20.3% | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 20.5% | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 20.2% | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 20.2% | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 20.1% | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 21.1% | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 21.6% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 21.9% | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 21.8% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 21.5% | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 22.4% | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 23.5% | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 24.6% | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 25.0% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 23.9% | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 25.4% | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 24.8% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 24.6% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 24.8% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 26.3% | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 25.9% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 25.7% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 25.9% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 26.6% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 27.0% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 28.7% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 27.8% | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 26.3% | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 25.7% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 25.8% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 26.3% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 26.8% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 25.4% | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 25.8% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 26.1% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 24.6% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 23.7% | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 24.5% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 24.5% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 24.2% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 24.0% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 24.6% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 23.9% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 23.7% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 23.5% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.7% | 20.4% | 21.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 20.7% | 20.1% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.7% | 21.1% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.7% | 24.6% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 25.4% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.4% | 23.7% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.6% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 11.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1969 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 11,341 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 7.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.1495 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 8,613 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.166 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 23.5% in 2021, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 28.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 10% before and after tax recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.1% in 1979.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for income share of the richest 10% before and after tax?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 28th out of 48 countries with data for 2021.
- Is income share of the richest 10% before and after tax rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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).