Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in Spain

Spain: Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) was 1.16 in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
1.16
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
23rd
of 48 countries
All-time high
1.44
in 1996
All-time low
1.1
in 1990
Years of data
30
1980–2022

Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in Spain, 1980–2022

00.511.51980200120221980: 1.21985: 1.21990: 1.11993: 1.31994: 1.31995: 1.41996: 1.41997: 1.31998: 1.31999: 1.32000: 1.42004: 1.32005: 1.22006: 1.22007: 1.22008: 1.22009: 1.32010: 1.32011: 1.32012: 1.32013: 1.42014: 1.32015: 1.42016: 1.32017: 1.32018: 1.32019: 1.22020: 1.22021: 1.22022: 1.2

Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Spain recorded 1.16 for income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in Spain peaked at 1.44 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 1.1, in 1990.

Spain ranks 23rd of 48 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in Spain, year by year

Annual values for Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in Spain, 1980 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1980 1.2 —
1985 1.19 -1.0%
1990 1.1 -7.4%
1993 1.34 +21.5%
1994 1.33 -0.9%
1995 1.35 +2.2%
1996 1.44 +6.7%
1997 1.35 -6.6%
1998 1.3 -3.5%
1999 1.31 +0.2%
2000 1.37 +4.9%
2004 1.26 -8.2%
2005 1.23 -1.9%
2006 1.18 -4.3%
2007 1.21 +3.0%
2008 1.23 +1.5%
2009 1.27 +3.0%
2010 1.32 +4.0%
2011 1.32 -0.2%
2012 1.28 -2.8%
2013 1.35 +5.6%
2014 1.34 -0.8%
2015 1.36 +1.0%
2016 1.32 -2.4%
2017 1.27 -3.9%
2018 1.25 -1.5%
2019 1.18 -5.9%
2020 1.24 +4.8%
2021 1.18 -4.6%
2022 1.16 -1.7%

Spain compared with similar countries

  • Spain's 1.16 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.09, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
  • Spain's 1.16 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.04, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.2 1.19 1.2 2
1990s 1.32 1.1 1.44 8
2000s 1.25 1.18 1.37 7
2010s 1.3 1.18 1.36 10
2020s 1.19 1.16 1.24 3

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 20 Australia 1.24 compare
  2. 21 Switzerland 1.2 compare
  3. 22 Germany 1.17 compare
  4. 24 Taiwan 1.15 compare
  5. 25 Estonia 1.15 compare
  6. 26 Greece 1.15 compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More economy & growth data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in Spain?
Income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in Spain was 1.16 in 2022, according to Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 1.44 in 1996.
What is the lowest income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 1.1 in 1990.
How does Spain rank for income inequality: palma ratio (after tax)?
Spain ranks 23rd out of 48 countries with data for 2022.
Is income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Spain data come from?
The figures come from Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in Spain. Statizoid, drawing on Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/palma-ratio-after-tax-lis/spain/

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About this data

Indicator
Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax)
Source
Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
48 places, 1,050 data points, 1963–2024
Last refreshed

The Palma ratio is a measure of inequality that divides the share received by the richest 10% by the share of the poorest 40%. Higher values indicate higher inequality. Inequality is measured here in terms of income after taxes and benefits.