As of 2024, the top 1% in Tuvalu earned 16.09% of total national income, while the bottom 50% received just 15.82%. Tuvalu’s income inequality has increased since 1980, when the top 1% share was 8.85%.
Key Income Distribution Metrics for Tuvalu in 2024
In 2024, income in Tuvalu was distributed as follows: the wealthiest 1% of the population captured 16.09% of total national income, which is roughly on par with the global average of 16.17%. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners received 15.82% of income, slightly higher than the global average of 14.97%.
| Metric | Tuvalu | Global Average |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% Income Share | 16.09% | 16.17% |
| Top 10% Income Share | 48.59% | 45.21% |
| Bottom 50% Income Share | 15.82% | 14.97% |
How Has Income Inequality Changed in Tuvalu?
Top 1% Income Share Trend (1980-2024)
The share of income going to Tuvalu’s top 1% has increased over the past 44 years. In 1980, the top 1% captured 8.85% of national income. By 2024, this figure had risen by 7.24 percentage points to 16.09%.
Top 10% vs Bottom 50% Income Gap Over Time
The income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% in Tuvalu has widened over this period. In 1980, the top 10% earned 35.34% while the bottom 50% received 21.21%. By 2024, these figures shifted to 48.59% and 15.82% respectively.
| Year | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% | Gap (Top 10 – Bottom 50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.85% | 35.34% | 21.21% | 14.13 pp |
| 1986 | 9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% | 14.96 pp |
| 1992 | 10.96% | 36.95% | 20.75% | 16.20 pp |
| 1998 | 12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% | 17.86 pp |
| 2004 | 14.29% | 42.46% | 18.98% | 23.48 pp |
| 2010 | 16.26% | 46.99% | 16.65% | 30.34 pp |
| 2016 | 16.15% | 48.03% | 16.11% | 31.92 pp |
| 2022 | 16.09% | 48.59% | 15.82% | 32.77 pp |
How Tuvalu Compares Globally
Tuvalu vs Oceania Average
Compared to other countries in Oceania, Tuvalu’s top 1% income share of 16.09% is roughly on par with the regional average of 15.41%. The bottom 50% in Tuvalu receives 15.82% of income, compared to the Oceania average of 16.05%.
Where Tuvalu Ranks Among All Countries
- Top 1% income concentration: Tuvalu ranks 86th out of 184 countries (higher rank = more concentrated wealth at the top)
- Bottom 50% income share: Tuvalu ranks 72nd out of 184 countries (higher rank = larger share for the bottom half)
Countries with similar income inequality levels to Tuvalu include Kiribati, income distribution in Fiji, Marshall Islands's wealth gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income share of the top 1% in Tuvalu?
As of 2024, the top 1% in Tuvalu earned 16.09% of total national income. This level of concentration is considered high by international standards.
Is income inequality increasing or decreasing in Tuvalu?
Income inequality in Tuvalu has increased since 1980. The top 1% income share moved from 8.85% in 1980 to 16.09% in 2024.
What percentage of income goes to the bottom 50% in Tuvalu?
In 2024, the bottom 50% of earners in Tuvalu received 15.82% of total national income. This compares with the top 10% who captured 48.59%.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.