1.1. Contact organisation
[4D0] European Commission (including Eurostat)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
[4D1_E2] Eurostat - Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail contact : ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
10 April 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
10 April 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
10 April 2026
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 10 on reducing inequality within and among countries; which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'Supporting people, strenghtening our societes and our social model'. SDG 10 among other things, calls for nations to adapt polices and legislation to increase the income of the bottom 40 % of the population and to reduce inequalities based on income, sex, age, disability, race, class, ethnicity, religion and opportunity.
Furthermore, the indicator is included as a key indicator in the Social Scoreboard for the European Pillar of Social Rights.
One of the objectives of the social policies in the EU is to reduce inequality by providing equal opportunities for all. Analysing the inequality of income distribution is one of the ways to measure inequality within EU countries. As a measure of the inequality of income distribution within a country, the indicator complements the indicators on the income share of the bottom 40 % and on the at risk of poverty gap.
4.1. Data description
Income inequality can be measured in different ways. The income quintile share ratio divides the total income received by the 20 % of the population with the highest income (top quintile) by the income received by the 20 % of the population with the lowest income (lowest quintile). Data are taken from the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) and are based on equivalised disposable income.
4.2. Unit of measure
Income quintile share ratio
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year
4.4. Accuracy - overall
From 2021 Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 foresees the requirements relating to geographical coverage, detailed sample characteristics, including subsampling, in accordance with Annex III, common data gathering periods, common standards for editing and imputation, weighting, estimation and variance estimation.
Before 2021 onwards EU-SILC is based on a common framework defined by harmonised lists of primary and secondary variables, common concepts, a recommended design, common requirements (such as imputation procedures, weighting, sampling errors calculation) and classifications aiming at maximising comparability of the information produced. Details can be found in the metadata of the source datasets.
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
EU-SILC
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC)
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Türkiye.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2010.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is less than 3 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
see table sdg_10_41
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
