Inequality in the UK

Statista overview report on Inequality in the UK

Inequality in the UK

When compared to the past, inequality in the United Kingdom has improved considerably. The UK of 2021 has a far more equal distribution of wealth and power than it had 100 years ago. Nevertheless, much of this wealth distribution took place during the postwar era (1945-1979), and in recent decades, the share of wealth going to the top one percent has increased. There is also evidence of an emerging poverty crisis in the UK, particularly among children, with a growing number of families dependent on food banks. Furthermore, there is still a significant disparity in earnings and outcomes based on factors such as gender and race. At the same time, structural regional problems hold back the potential of large areas of the UK.

This report examines inequality in the UK, considering the long-term trends and the inter-related issues that define the issue in the 2020s.

Table of contents

Income and wealth inequality

  • Long-term trends
  • Income share of the top one percent

Poverty in the UK
  • Absolute vs relative poverty
  • Child poverty crisis

Gender inequality
  • Gender pay gap
  • Positions of power

Race and inequality
  • Ethnicity pay gap
  • Recruitment bias

Regional inequality
  • North-South divide
  • London and the UK

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