Australia Income Share Top 10%
Income share held by highest 10% SI.DST.10TH.10
Australia's income share top 10% was 25.50% in 2020, ranked 34th globally. This represents a 2.7% decrease from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2020.
Overview
Australia's income share top 10% stood at 25.50% in 2020, a decline of +0.70pp from 2018. Australia ranked 34th globally.
Australia’s share of national income accruing to the top 10 percent of earners stood at 25.50 percent in 2020, placing the country 34th in the World Bank ranking. This figure follows a gradual rise from the all‑time trough of 22.90 percent recorded in 1981, reaching an all‑time peak of 27.40 percent during the 2008 global financial crisis before receding modestly. The recent level is closely aligned with peers such as Montenegro (25.40 percent) and the Russian Federation (25.70 percent), and remains slightly below Italy’s 26.10 percent share. The upward trajectory since the early 1980s reflects persistent earnings concentration despite periods of economic turbulence, suggesting that policy interventions targeting wage compression or progressive taxation would be required to alter the current path. Continued monitoring will reveal whether post‑pandemic growth can curb the share of income held by the top decile.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Top 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 25.50% | −0.70pp | #34 |
| 2018 | 26.20% | +0.70pp | #41 |
| 2016 | 25.50% | −1.10pp | #34 |
| 2014 | 26.60% | +0.10pp | #43 |
| 2010 | 26.50% | −0.90pp | #46 |
| 2008 | 27.40% | +2.50pp | #44 |
| 2004 | 24.90% | +0.20pp | #23 |
| 2003 | 24.70% | +0.00pp | #22 |
| 2001 | 24.70% | +0.50pp | #9 |
| 1995 | 24.20% | +0.00pp | #12 |
| 1989 | 24.20% | −0.10pp | #6 |
| 1985 | 24.30% | +1.40pp | #6 |
| 1981 | 22.90% | – | #3 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Australia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw income share top 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Australia's income share top 10% was 25.50% in 2020. Ranked 34th globally. This represents a 2.7% decrease from the previous year.
Australia's income share top 10% peaked at 27.40% in 2008.
The lowest income share top 10% in Australia was 22.90% in 1981.
Australia ranks 34th globally in income share top 10% as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.10TH.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share top 10% of Australia in 2020 was 25.50%. This ranks 34th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_australia_income-top-10,
title = {Australia Income Share Top 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/australia/income-top-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}