Pre-tax distribution of national income Europe 2021

The period from 1980 to 2021 saw an increase in the share of national income in Europe taken by the top 10 percent of earners. This period has generally been categorized by economists as a period of rising income inequality, especially when compared with the postwar period (1945-1970s) in Europe which saw a compression of the income distribution, with the middle classes in particular making large gains. As financial and labor markets were liberalized in the 1980s and as the effects of economic globalization took hold, however, a growing share of income went to the top earners. This European trend mirrors increases in inequality across the globe during this period, with the United States seeing a particularly sharp rise in the share taken by its top one percent. Rising income inequality has been linked to the rise of populism in Europe throughout the 2000s and 2010s, as voters sought to hit back at economic elites.

Pre-tax shares of national income taken by different income groups in Europe from 1980 to 2021

Characteristic	Bottom 50%	Top 10-50%	Top 1-10%	Top 1%
2021	18.55%	45.25%	24.24%	11.96%
2020	18.52%	45.37%	24.22%	11.89%
2019	18.48%	45.27%	24.23%	12.02%
2018	18.32%	45.26%	24.3%	12.12%
2017	18.19%	45.16%	24.34%	12.31%
2016	17.97%	45.35%	24.48%	12.2%
2015	17.75%	45.52%	24.64%	12.09%
2014	17.49%	45.49%	24.65%	12.37%
2013	17.41%	45.56%	24.95%	12.08%
2012	17.54%	45.85%	24.77%	11.84%
2011	17.56%	45.9%	24.52%	12.02%
2010	17.59%	46.11%	24.61%	11.69%
2009	17.42%	45.89%	24.86%	11.83%
2008	17.36%	45.91%	24.58%	12.15%
2007	16.91%	45.38%	24.98%	12.73%
2006	16.9%	45.82%	24.82%	12.46%
2005	16.9%	46.12%	24.9%	12.08%
2004	16.9%	46.56%	24.97%	11.57%
2003	16.84%	46.96%	24.98%	11.22%
2002	16.8%	47.14%	25.11%	10.95%
2001	16.59%	47.14%	25.17%	11.1%
2000	16.54%	47.15%	25.1%	11.21%
1999	16.48%	47.27%	25.07%	11.18%
1998	16.6%	47.28%	24.83%	11.29%
1997	16.71%	47.66%	24.78%	10.85%
1996	16.73%	48%	24.85%	10.42%
1995	16.59%	48.42%	24.96%	10.03%
1994	16.77%	48.38%	25.03%	9.82%
1993	16.91%	48.4%	25.08%	9.61%
1992	17.26%	48.42%	24.78%	9.54%
1991	17.85%	48.03%	24.45%	9.67%
1990	18.54%	47.66%	24.15%	9.65%
1989	19.37%	47.4%	23.67%	9.56%
1988	19.72%	47.43%	23.49%	9.36%
1987	19.96%	47.92%	23.17%	8.95%
1986	20.02%	48.27%	23.03%	8.68%
1985	20.11%	48.53%	23.04%	8.32%
1984	20.25%	48.64%	22.98%	8.13%
1983	20.36%	48.76%	22.84%	8.04%
1982	20.26%	48.83%	22.86%	8.05%
1981	20.32%	48.72%	22.78%	8.18%
1980	20.4%	48.33%	22.91%	8.36%