Prosperity gap in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Prosperity gap was 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
105th
of 123 countries
All-time high
1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
in 1968
All-time low
0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
in 2006
Years of data
54
1968–2021

Prosperity gap in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1968–2021

00.511.5196819942021

Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day for prosperity gap in 2021.

The figure is up 12.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prosperity gap in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1968 and was at its lowest, 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, in 2006.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 105th of 123 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.

Prosperity gap in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1968 to 2021.
Year average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day Change
1968 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
1969 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1970 1.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -6.7%
1971 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +7.1%
1972 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1973 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -13.3%
1974 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1975 1.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +7.7%
1976 1.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1977 1.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1978 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -7.1%
1979 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1980 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1981 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1982 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -7.7%
1983 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1984 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1985 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1986 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1987 1.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -8.3%
1988 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -9.1%
1989 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1990 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1991 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1992 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1993 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1994 1.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +10.0%
1995 1.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
1996 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -9.1%
1997 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -10.0%
1998 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +11.1%
1999 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2000 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -10.0%
2001 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2002 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2003 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2004 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2005 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2006 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -11.1%
2007 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2008 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2009 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +12.5%
2010 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -11.1%
2011 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2012 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +12.5%
2013 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day -11.1%
2014 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2015 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2016 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +12.5%
2017 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2018 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2019 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2020 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%
2021 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 2
1970s 1.38 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 10
1980s 1.17 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 10
1990s 1.01 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 1.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 10
2000s 0.87 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 10
2010s 0.85 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 10
2020s 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 103 Estonia 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
  2. 103 Russian Federation 1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
  3. 105 Poland 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
  4. 107 Austria 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
  5. 107 Czechia 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
  6. 107 Denmark 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare

See the full ranking of 137 places →

More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is prosperity gap in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Prosperity gap in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 0.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2021, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
What is the highest prosperity gap recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 1.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1968.
What is the lowest prosperity gap recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 0.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2006.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for prosperity gap?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 105th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
Is prosperity gap rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prosperity gap in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/prosperity-gap-average-shortfall-from-a-prosperity-standard-of-28-day/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day)
Unit
average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
Source
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
137 places, 2,866 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

The average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28 per day (adjusted for differences in purchasing power parity across countries). It is measured as the average factor by which incomes fall short of $28.