We consider and resolve the gap problem for global automorphisms of complex or real parabolic geometries. Concretely, the automorphism group of a parabolic geometry of type $(G, P)$ is largest for the flat model $G/P$. The symmetry dimension is maximal in this case and is equal to $\operatorname{dim} G$. We prove that the next realizable, so-called submaximal dimension of the automorphism group of a $(G, P)$ type geometry is the dimension of a (specific) maximal parabolic subgroup in $G$. We also discuss maximal and submaximal dimensions of the automorphism group of compact models and provide several examples. Joint work with B. Kruglikov.