Germany Income Share Top 10%
Income share held by highest 10% SI.DST.10TH.10
Germany's income share top 10% was 25.00% in 2020, ranked 28th globally. This represents a 1.2% increase from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2020.
Overview
Germany's income share top 10% stood at 25.00% in 2020, a rise of +0.30pp from 2019. Germany ranked 28th globally.
Germany’s share of income accruing to the top 10 % of earners rose from 22.80 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 25.00 % in 2020, marking the highest level recorded over the 30‑year series. The trough of 22.00 % occurred in 1998, after which the share embarked on a gradual upward trajectory that accelerated in the 2010s, reaching the same 25.00 % level as Spain and Luxembourg in the latest year, while ranking 28th globally. The increase mirrors broader trends in advanced economies where top‑income concentration has intensified, as seen in the United Kingdom’s 24.60 % and South Korea’s 24.80 % shares. Structural factors such as wage polarization, capital income growth, and fiscal policy choices have contributed to the rise. If policy reforms aimed at progressive taxation and redistribution are expanded, the upward momentum could be moderated; otherwise the share of top‑10 % income is likely to remain near its current peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Top 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 25.00% | +0.30pp | #28 |
| 2019 | 24.70% | −0.20pp | #29 |
| 2018 | 24.90% | +0.70pp | #29 |
| 2017 | 24.20% | +0.00pp | #24 |
| 2016 | 24.20% | −0.40pp | #26 |
| 2015 | 24.60% | +1.00pp | #23 |
| 2014 | 23.60% | −0.90pp | #19 |
| 2013 | 24.50% | +0.50pp | #24 |
| 2012 | 24.00% | −0.10pp | #24 |
| 2011 | 24.10% | +0.40pp | #22 |
| 2010 | 23.70% | +0.10pp | #20 |
| 2009 | 23.60% | −0.60pp | #16 |
| 2008 | 24.20% | −0.50pp | #19 |
| 2007 | 24.70% | +0.40pp | #20 |
| 2006 | 24.30% | −0.60pp | #20 |
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 top 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Germany's income share top 10% was 25.00% in 2020. Ranked 28th globally. This represents a 1.2% increase from the previous year.
Germany's income share top 10% peaked at 25.00% in 2020.
The lowest income share top 10% in Germany was 22.00% in 1996.
Germany ranks 28th 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 Germany in 2020 was 25.00%. This ranks 28th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_germany_income-top-10,
title = {Germany Income Share Top 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/germany/income-top-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}