The line graph compares the proportion of income spent on housing in Germany and South Korea across different income levels, from the poorest to the richest groups.

Overall, the two countries followed contrasting trends. In Germany, the percentage spent on housing generally declined as income increased, while the opposite was true in South Korea. Germany recorded considerably higher figures among the poorest groups, but the gap gradually narrowed and the two figures became almost equal around the middle-income level. After this point, South Korea overtook Germany and remained higher among wealthier groups.

At the lowest income level, Germans spent approximately 35% of their income on housing, compared with only around 9% in South Korea. As income rose, however, these figures moved in opposite directions. The German percentage fell steadily, dropping to roughly 22% towards the end of the poorest income range. Meanwhile, the figure for South Korea rose considerably to approximately 19%. As a result, the large initial difference between the two countries became much smaller.

Around the middle-income level, the figures converged at approximately 20%. From this point onwards, Germany’s housing expenditure continued its downward trend, falling to around 15% and eventually reaching just 9% among the richest groups. South Korea, by contrast, climbed to approximately 25% before experiencing a temporary decline to around 22%. The figure then recovered, ending at roughly 27%, which was about three times the corresponding percentage in Germany.

Useful vocabulary & definitions

• follow contrasting trends — change in clearly different directions
• decline as income increases — become lower as income becomes higher
• the gap gradually narrowed — the difference slowly became smaller
• overtake — become higher than another figure
• move in opposite directions — one figure rises while the other falls
• fall steadily — decrease gradually and consistently
• rise considerably — increase by a significant amount
• become much smaller — decrease noticeably in size or difference
• converge at — move towards each other and reach approximately the same level
• continue a downward trend — keep decreasing
• by contrast — used to introduce a clearly different trend
• experience a temporary decline — decrease for a short period before rising again
• recover — increase again after a fall