Switzerland vs United Kingdom: Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median

Switzerland
11.6%
in 2023
United Kingdom
11.7%
in 2021
Switzerland rank
57th
United Kingdom rank
55th

Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median over time

  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
468101214196819952023

How they compare

United Kingdom currently reports 11.7% against 11.6% in Switzerland, a difference of 0.1%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 21 shared years of data; in 1982 it was Switzerland ahead.

Switzerland ranks 57th and United Kingdom ranks 55th of 120 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Switzerland averaged higher in 1 and United Kingdom in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade Switzerland United Kingdom Difference Ahead
1980s 9.1% 8.5% 0.6% Switzerland
1990s 10.0% 13.1% 3.1% United Kingdom
2000s 10.2% 12.3% 2.1% United Kingdom
2010s 10.6% 11.9% 1.2% United Kingdom
2020s 10.8% 11.6% 0.7% United Kingdom

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median, Switzerland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom, at 11.7% against 11.6% in Switzerland as of 2021.
What is the difference in relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median between Switzerland and United Kingdom?
0.1%, with United Kingdom ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Switzerland and United Kingdom?
21 years are reported by both, from 1982 to 2021.
How do Switzerland and United Kingdom rank globally for relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median?
Switzerland ranks 57th and United Kingdom ranks 55th of 120 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Switzerland vs United Kingdom: Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/compare/relative-poverty-share-of-people-below-50-of-the-median/switzerland/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median
Unit
%
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,152 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below 50% of the median.