Go to content
Go to the home page - Statistics Finland

Income differentials grew in 2021

Release related to topics:Work, wages and livelihoodPopulation and society
release | Income distribution statistics 2021

Change

The database tables of income distribution statistics have been revised and a new table added. Publication of part of the tables has been postponed to 2023.
Read more about the change

According to Statistics Finland, income differentials grew in 2021 compared to the previous year. The average income of the highest-income decile in the population grew by 8.1 per cent in real terms. The real income of the lowest-income decile remained on level with the previous year. The real income level of the middle-income decile (income deciles V to IX) rose by 1.5 per cent.

Key selections

  • Income differentials grew clearly in 2021. The Gini coefficient received the value 29.1. It was 1.4 percentage points higher than in 2020.
  • Sales profits and other property income increased the income of those with the highest income more than that of other population groups. The average for disposable monetary income of the top 1 % grew in real terms by 19.9 % from the year before.
  • The average for real income of the lowest-income decile remained unchanged and the income level of the four lowest-income deciles rose by 0.3 per cent.
  • There were 719,000 persons at risk of poverty, 13.2 % of the dwelling population in 2021. The share grew from the previous year, when it was 12.5 %.
  • A total of 421,600 persons were at long-term risk of poverty, that is, besides 2021, they were at risk of poverty in at least two of the three previous years.

Change

The database tables of income distribution statistics have been revised and a new table added. Publication of part of the tables has been postponed to 2023.
Read more about the change

Figures

See key statistical data in the figures.

Personal disposable cash income by age and sex 2023

Median. personal disposable monetary income (no division of household income components) 1995-2023

Disposable cash income per consumption unit, mean in [FIRST to 2023

Median for household-dwelling units' disposable monetary income per consumption unit by municipality in 1995 to 2021

Median for household-dwelling units' disposable monetary income per consumption unit by municipality in 1995 to 2023

Database tables

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

Updated database tables
11wh
Classifications used:
  • Income decile or fractile group
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
11x3
Classifications used:
  • Income concept
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
118w
Classifications used:
  • Region
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
12hh
Classifications used:
  • Income decile or fractile group
  • Region
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
128c
Classifications used:
  • Decile
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
11py
Classifications used:
  • Sex
  • Person's age
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
13dp
Classifications used:
  • Number of adults and children
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
11ng
Classifications used:
  • Dependency on basic social security
  • Main income source of household-dwelling unit
  • Person's age
  • Sex
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
127y
Classifications used:
  • Region
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
128i
Classifications used:
  • Sub-regional unit
Statistics:
Updated:
127m
Classifications used:
  • Region
Statistics:
Updated:
128b
Classifications used:
  • Age of reference person
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
128h
Classifications used:
  • Level of education
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
11wl
Classifications used:
  • Income decile or fractile group
  • Main income source of household-dwelling unit
  • Person's age
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
12hi
Classifications used:
  • Decile
  • Sub-regional unit
Statistics:
Updated:
127l
Classifications used:
  • Region
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
127n
Classifications used:
  • Sub-regional unit
Statistics:
Updated:
127r
Classifications used:
  • Region
Statistics:
Updated:
127z
Classifications used:
  • Region
Statistics:
Updated:
128a
Classifications used:
  • Sub-regional unit
Statistics:
Updated:
128j
Classifications used:
  • Sex
  • Person's age
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
122s
Classifications used:
  • Decile
  • Type of income
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
128l
Classifications used:
  • Dependency on basic social security
  • Region
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
New database tables
13vi
Classifications used:
  • Sructure of householl-dwelling unit
  • Value of money
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:

Future releases

Documentation

Description of the production, used methods and quality of the statistics.

Go to documentation of the statistics

Referencing instructions

Income distribution statistics [online publication].
Reference period: 2021. ISSN=1799-1331. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [Referenced: 23.5.2025].
Access method:

Statistical experts

Inquiries primarily

Service email
toimeentulo.tilastokeskus@stat.fi
Veli-Matti Törmälehto
Senior Researcher
029 551 3680

Other experts

Tara Junes
Senior Statistician
029 551 3322

Head of Department in charge

Hannele Orjala
Head of Department in charge
029 551 3582