Three metrics of inequality in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Three metrics of inequality was 46.83 in 2021. β–² Rising

Latest (2021)
46.83
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
91st
of 113 countries
All-time high
50.74
in 2009
All-time low
40.88
in 1982
Years of data
38
1982–2021

Three metrics of inequality in United Kingdom, 1982–2021

02040601982200120211982: 40.91983: 41.41984: 42.11985: 42.41986: 42.51987: 42.91988: 43.71989: 43.51990: 461991: 46.61992: 46.71993: 47.31994: 471995: 47.61996: 48.11997: 48.21998: 48.81999: 49.22000: 48.22001: 48.72002: 48.92003: 49.92004: 49.12005: 50.12006: 50.32007: 502008: 492009: 50.72010: 46.82011: 47.52012: 48.72015: 472016: 46.92017: 46.82018: 46.92019: 46.62020: 46.62021: 46.8

Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2021, three metrics of inequality in United Kingdom stood at 46.83.

The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, three metrics of inequality in United Kingdom peaked at 50.74 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 40.88, in 1982.

United Kingdom ranks 91st of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 42.42 40.88 43.67 8
1990s 47.53 46 49.19 10
2000s 49.5 48.23 50.74 10
2010s 47.15 46.63 48.66 8
2020s 46.73 46.63 46.83 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 88 Ireland 47.92 compare
  2. 89 Croatia 47.15 compare
  3. 90 Malta 47.06 compare
  4. 92 Portugal 46.56 compare
  5. 93 New Zealand 46.49 compare
  6. 94 Luxembourg 45.95 compare

See the full ranking of 113 places β†’

More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is three metrics of inequality in United Kingdom?
Three metrics of inequality in United Kingdom was 46.83 in 2021, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest three metrics of inequality recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 50.74 in 2009.
What is the lowest three metrics of inequality recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 40.88 in 1982.
How does United Kingdom rank for three metrics of inequality?
United Kingdom ranks 91st out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
Is three metrics of inequality rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Three metrics of inequality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV Β· JSON β€” 38 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Three metrics of inequality
Source
World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
113 places, 3,075 data points, 1820–2024
Last refreshed

The Gini coefficient measures inequality on a scale from 0 to 1. Higher values indicate higher inequality. Inequality is measured here in terms of income before taxes and benefits.