Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in United States
United States: Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) was 1.8 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in United States, 1963–2024
Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in United States stood at 1.8.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in United States peaked at 1.8 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.12, in 1978.
That places United States 8th out of 48 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 62 years of available data.
Income inequality: Palma ratio (after tax) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 1.24 | — |
| 1964 | 1.28 | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 1.25 | -2.0% |
| 1966 | 1.24 | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 1.22 | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 1.18 | -3.7% |
| 1969 | 1.16 | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 1.21 | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 1.24 | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 1.24 | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 1.2 | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 1.17 | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 1.18 | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 1.17 | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 1.17 | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 1.12 | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 1.14 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 1.12 | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 1.16 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 1.24 | +7.1% |
| 1983 | 1.29 | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 1.3 | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 1.33 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 1.34 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 1.32 | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 1.35 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 1.39 | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 1.37 | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 1.37 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 1.41 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 1.6 | +13.5% |
| 1994 | 1.57 | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 1.54 | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 1.57 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 1.61 | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.56 | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 1.56 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 1.59 | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 1.63 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.61 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 1.66 | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 1.64 | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.73 | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 1.78 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.69 | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 1.69 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.64 | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 1.58 | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 1.68 | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 1.69 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 1.67 | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.71 | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 1.69 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.71 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 1.71 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 1.77 | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 1.8 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 1.63 | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 1.6 | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 1.8 | +12.6% |
| 2023 | 1.78 | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 1.8 | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.22 | 1.16 | 1.28 | 7 |
| 1970s | 1.18 | 1.12 | 1.24 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.29 | 1.12 | 1.39 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.52 | 1.37 | 1.61 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.67 | 1.59 | 1.78 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7 | 1.58 | 1.8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.72 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More economy & growth data for United States
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 10.53 % change on previous year (2021)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.9477 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 67,708 current LCU per person (2021)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 5.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current US$), per capita 90,026 current US$ per person (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate 5.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per capita 90,026 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in United States?
- Income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) in United States was 1.8 in 2024, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.8 in 2019.
- What is the lowest income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.12 in 1978.
- How does United States rank for income inequality: palma ratio (after tax)?
- United States ranks 8th out of 48 countries with data for 2024.
- Is income inequality: palma ratio (after tax) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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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About this data
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.