Germany Income Share Bottom 10%
Income share held by lowest 10% SI.DST.FRST.10
Germany's income share bottom 10% was 2.90% in 2020, ranked 33rd globally. This represents a 6.5% decrease from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2020.
Overview
Germany's income share bottom 10% stood at 2.90% in 2020, a decline of +0.20pp from 2019. Germany ranked 33rd globally.
Germany’s share of total national income accruing to the bottom 10 percent of earners fell from 3.80 percent in 1991 to a trough of 2.90 percent in 2020, marking the lowest point in the 30‑year series and the all‑time trough for the indicator. The peak of 3.80 percent was recorded in 1996, after which the share has gradually contracted, reaching the latest value of 2.90 percent in 2020, which places Germany 33rd in the global ranking. This level is identical to that of peers such as Austria, Croatia and the Russian Federation, underscoring a convergence among diverse economies at the lower end of the distribution. The persistent decline suggests that without policy interventions aimed at boosting wages or redistributive mechanisms, the share of income held by the poorest decile is likely to remain flat or slip further, limiting progress toward a more inclusive growth trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Bottom 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.90% | −0.20pp | #33 |
| 2019 | 3.10% | +0.00pp | #27 |
| 2018 | 3.10% | +0.00pp | #29 |
| 2017 | 3.10% | −0.10pp | #25 |
| 2016 | 3.20% | +0.00pp | #20 |
| 2015 | 3.20% | +0.00pp | #22 |
| 2014 | 3.20% | −0.20pp | #21 |
| 2013 | 3.40% | +0.10pp | #17 |
| 2012 | 3.30% | −0.20pp | #23 |
| 2011 | 3.50% | +0.00pp | #18 |
| 2010 | 3.50% | +0.10pp | #17 |
| 2009 | 3.40% | −0.10pp | #18 |
| 2008 | 3.50% | +0.00pp | #17 |
| 2007 | 3.50% | +0.10pp | #17 |
| 2006 | 3.40% | +0.00pp | #22 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Germany matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw income share bottom 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Germany's income share bottom 10% was 2.90% in 2020. Ranked 33rd globally. This represents a 6.5% decrease from the previous year.
Germany's income share bottom 10% peaked at 3.80% in 1991.
The lowest income share bottom 10% in Germany was 2.90% in 2020.
Germany ranks 33rd globally in income share bottom 10% as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.FRST.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share bottom 10% of Germany in 2020 was 2.90%. This ranks 33rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_germany_income-bottom-10,
title = {Germany Income Share Bottom 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/germany/income-bottom-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}