Reduction in income inequality before and after tax in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Reduction in income inequality before and after tax was 29.7% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Reduction in income inequality before and after tax in United Kingdom, 2002–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 29.7% for reduction in income inequality before and after tax in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reduction in income inequality before and after tax in United Kingdom peaked at 33.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 28.0%, in 2019.
United Kingdom ranks 24th of 39 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Reduction in income inequality before and after tax in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 29.7% | — |
| 2003 | 30.3% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 30.4% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 29.9% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 28.6% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 28.2% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 29.1% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 30.2% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 32.5% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 33.0% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 32.1% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 31.2% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 30.7% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 30.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 29.4% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 28.7% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 28.0% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 30.0% | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 30.6% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 28.8% | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 29.7% | +3.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 29.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 34.3%, 87% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 29.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 36.2%, 82% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.6% | 28.2% | 30.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 30.9% | 28.0% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.7% | 28.8% | 30.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 6 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 7,138 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -7.54 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.91 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.9% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reduction in income inequality before and after tax in United Kingdom?
- Reduction in income inequality before and after tax in United Kingdom was 29.7% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reduction in income inequality before and after tax recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2012.
- What is the lowest reduction in income inequality before and after tax recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.0% in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for reduction in income inequality before and after tax?
- United Kingdom ranks 24th out of 39 countries with data for 2023.
- Is reduction in income inequality before and after tax rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reduction in income inequality before and after tax. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This is the percentage difference between the Gini coefficient before taxes and benefits and the Gini coefficient after taxes and benefits.