In 1981, 184 countries reported income inequality data. The highest top 1% income concentration was in Malawi at 64.09%. The global average top 1% income share was 15.33%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1981
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1981, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  income distribution in Malawi |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 |  income distribution in Maldives |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 3 |  income distribution in Kenya |
34.81% | 66.26% | 7.30% |
| 4 |  Namibia's income inequality |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 |  Chile's income inequality |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 6 |  income distribution in Eritrea |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 |  Ethiopia's income inequality |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 |  Comoros's wealth gap |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 9 |  Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 10 |  Turkey's wealth gap |
28.31% | 60.31% | 10.54% |
| 11 |  Brazil |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 12 |  income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 13 |  Myanmar's wealth gap |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 14 |  income distribution in Senegal |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 15 |  Peru's wealth gap |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 16 |  Somalia's income inequality |
24.69% | 56.50% | 10.93% |
| 17 |  Iraq's wealth gap |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Botswana |
24.36% | 60.98% | 7.94% |
| 19 |  Rwanda's wealth gap |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 20 |  Mozambique |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 1981
These countries had the highest share of income going to the bottom 50% of earners, indicating more equitable distribution.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hungary's income inequality |
2.85% | 18.02% | 33.57% |
| 2 |  Poland's income inequality |
4.34% | 22.45% | 28.02% |
| 3 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 4 |  Armenia's wealth gap |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 5 |  Kazakhstan's income inequality |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 6 |  Ukraine's wealth gap |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 7 |  Kyrgyzstan |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 8 |  income distribution in Turkmenistan |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 9 |  Azerbaijan |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 10 |  Belarus |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 11 |  income distribution in Georgia |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 12 |  Tajikistan's wealth gap |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 13 |  Slovenia's income inequality |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 14 |  Bulgaria's wealth gap |
3.52% | 21.64% | 27.18% |
| 15 |  Romania's income inequality |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 16 |  Sweden |
7.38% | 25.60% | 26.95% |
| 17 |  Italy's wealth gap |
4.59% | 23.27% | 26.66% |
| 18 |  Latvia's income inequality |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.35% |
| 19 |  Slovakia's wealth gap |
3.95% | 22.63% | 26.00% |
| 20 |  Moldova |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1981
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 15.33%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 15.75%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (64.09%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Hungary (2.85%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1981
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi's wealth gap |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 | Maldives's wealth gap |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 3 | Kenya |
34.81% | 66.26% | 7.30% |
| 4 | Namibia |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 | Chile's wealth gap |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 6 | income distribution in Eritrea |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 | income distribution in Ethiopia |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 | Comoros's wealth gap |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 9 | income distribution in Colombia |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 10 | income distribution in Turkey |
28.31% | 60.31% | 10.54% |
| 11 | Brazil's wealth gap |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 12 | Cambodia's wealth gap |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 13 | Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 14 | income distribution in Senegal |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 15 | Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 16 | income distribution in Somalia |
24.69% | 56.50% | 10.93% |
| 17 | Iraq's income inequality |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 18 | Botswana's wealth gap |
24.36% | 60.98% | 7.94% |
| 19 | Rwanda's income inequality |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 20 | Mozambique |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
| 21 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis's wealth gap |
23.64% | 55.93% | 8.16% |
| 22 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's wealth gap |
23.64% | 55.93% | 8.16% |
| 23 |  income distribution in Grenada |
23.64% | 55.93% | 8.16% |
| 24 |  income distribution in Antigua and Barbuda |
23.64% | 55.93% | 8.16% |
| 25 |  Dominica's income inequality |
23.64% | 55.93% | 8.16% |
| 26 |  Barbados's income inequality |
23.64% | 55.93% | 8.16% |
| 27 |  Saint Lucia |
23.64% | 55.93% | 8.16% |
| 28 |  Lesotho's income inequality |
23.41% | 61.13% | 7.43% |
| 29 |  Guinea-Bissau's wealth gap |
23.28% | 59.57% | 7.71% |
| 30 |  Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 31 |  Iran |
23.05% | 57.43% | 11.09% |
| 32 |  income distribution in Thailand |
22.99% | 55.97% | 9.66% |
| 33 |  Qatar |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 34 |  income distribution in Ecuador |
22.86% | 54.43% | 8.90% |
| 35 |  Dominican Republic's wealth gap |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 36 |  income distribution in Yemen |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 37 |  Honduras's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 38 |  Haiti's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  income distribution in Paraguay |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  income distribution in Guatemala |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  income distribution in Belize |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  Bahamas |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  Suriname's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  income distribution in Panama |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  income distribution in Guyana |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  Nicaragua's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 47 |  income distribution in Jamaica |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 48 |  Venezuela's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 49 |  income distribution in Trinidad and Tobago |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 50 |  Bolivia's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 51 |  Bahrain's income inequality |
22.21% | 56.52% | 10.89% |
| 52 |  Central African Republic's wealth gap |
22.03% | 64.28% | 5.68% |
| 53 |  Angola's wealth gap |
22.00% | 58.03% | 9.15% |
| 54 |  Tunisia's wealth gap |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 55 |  Seychelles's wealth gap |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 56 |  Madagascar's wealth gap |
21.74% | 55.41% | 10.62% |
| 57 |  Mali's wealth gap |
21.64% | 58.55% | 9.30% |
| 58 |  income distribution in Burkina Faso |
21.27% | 57.95% | 10.09% |
| 59 |  Kuwait's wealth gap |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 60 |  Lebanon's wealth gap |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 61 |  Palestine |
20.18% | 53.50% | 11.75% |
| 62 |  Costa Rica |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 63 |  Malaysia's income inequality |
20.13% | 47.48% | 13.83% |
| 64 |  United Arab Emirates's income inequality |
20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% |
| 65 |  Oman's income inequality |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 66 |  Philippines's wealth gap |
19.57% | 49.42% | 13.05% |
| 67 |  El Salvador |
19.23% | 50.85% | 7.08% |
| 68 |  Uruguay's wealth gap |
19.01% | 48.42% | 13.61% |
| 69 |  income distribution in Cuba |
18.91% | 51.14% | 10.23% |
| 70 |  Zambia's wealth gap |
18.86% | 58.81% | 5.56% |
| 71 |  Congo's income inequality |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 72 |  Gambia's wealth gap |
18.57% | 55.26% | 10.21% |
| 73 |  Cameroon's wealth gap |
18.49% | 54.31% | 11.51% |
| 74 |  Bhutan's wealth gap |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 75 |  Israel's income inequality |
18.07% | 49.45% | 13.45% |
| 76 |  income distribution in Papua New Guinea |
18.06% | 50.25% | 10.91% |
| 77 |  Jordan |
17.80% | 49.33% | 14.14% |
| 78 |  Niger's wealth gap |
17.41% | 47.52% | 14.91% |
| 79 |  Gabon's wealth gap |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 80 |  Egypt |
16.53% | 47.14% | 17.04% |
| 81 |  Benin |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 82 |  Libya |
16.26% | 46.87% | 15.10% |
| 83 |  Afghanistan's wealth gap |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 84 |  Zimbabwe's wealth gap |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 85 |  Pakistan |
15.73% | 43.94% | 16.25% |
| 86 |  Algeria's income inequality |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 87 |  Djibouti's wealth gap |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 88 |  Uganda's income inequality |
15.20% | 50.75% | 11.66% |
| 89 |  Argentina's income inequality |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 90 |  income distribution in Mongolia |
14.84% | 42.51% | 13.90% |
| 91 |  income distribution in Indonesia |
14.79% | 41.24% | 16.46% |
| 92 |  income distribution in Sri Lanka |
14.77% | 42.23% | 16.65% |
| 93 |  Chad |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 94 |  South Sudan's income inequality |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 95 |  Togo's wealth gap |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 96 |  income distribution in Mauritius |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 97 |  Morocco's income inequality |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 98 |  Hong Kong's income inequality |
13.24% | 41.91% | 17.77% |
| 99 |  Luxembourg's wealth gap |
12.98% | 35.25% | 21.50% |
| 100 |  Sierra Leone's income inequality |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 101 |  Mauritania |
12.81% | 48.09% | 12.18% |
| 102 |  Liberia's wealth gap |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 103 |  income distribution in Mexico |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 104 |  Equatorial Guinea |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 105 |  North Korea's wealth gap |
11.88% | 38.19% | 18.32% |
| 106 |  Bangladesh's income inequality |
11.64% | 36.52% | 19.97% |
| 107 |  income distribution in Cyprus |
11.60% | 37.22% | 18.17% |
| 108 |  Tanzania's income inequality |
11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% |
| 109 |  Ghana's income inequality |
11.44% | 43.49% | 15.56% |
| 110 |  Sudan's income inequality |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 111 |  income distribution in Spain |
11.15% | 34.69% | 20.41% |
| 112 |  Burundi's income inequality |
11.09% | 42.83% | 16.19% |
| 113 |  Singapore |
10.80% | 35.61% | 21.12% |
| 114 |  income distribution in Japan |
10.18% | 34.95% | 20.91% |
| 115 |  income distribution in South Africa |
10.14% | 47.18% | 13.50% |
| 116 |  Greece's income inequality |
10.08% | 37.38% | 16.97% |
| 117 |  income distribution in Switzerland |
10.06% | 30.51% | 23.71% |
| 118 |  income distribution in Taiwan |
9.96% | 34.92% | 18.73% |
| 119 |  income distribution in Guinea |
9.73% | 46.54% | 10.93% |
| 120 |  Nepal's income inequality |
9.69% | 33.81% | 22.33% |
| 121 |  income distribution in Germany |
9.42% | 28.14% | 23.38% |
| 122 |  Austria's income inequality |
9.30% | 31.53% | 23.15% |
| 123 |  Nigeria's income inequality |
9.26% | 43.53% | 13.93% |
| 124 |  Serbia's wealth gap |
9.20% | 29.78% | 21.94% |
| 125 |  Sao Tome and Principe's wealth gap |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 126 |  Andorra's income inequality |
9.07% | 32.30% | 20.27% |
| 127 |  San Marino's income inequality |
9.07% | 32.30% | 20.27% |
| 128 |  Monaco's income inequality |
9.07% | 32.30% | 20.27% |
| 129 |  Liechtenstein's income inequality |
9.07% | 32.30% | 20.27% |
| 130 |  Samoa |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 131 |  Fiji |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 132 |  Marshall Islands |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 133 |  Nauru's wealth gap |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 134 |  income distribution in Tonga |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 135 |  Solomon Islands's income inequality |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 136 |  income distribution in Tuvalu |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 137 |  Vanuatu |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 138 |  Kiribati |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 139 |  Palau's wealth gap |
9.00% | 35.43% | 21.17% |
| 140 |  Ireland |
8.87% | 30.73% | 23.22% |
| 141 |  income distribution in Malta |
8.61% | 30.57% | 21.97% |
| 142 |  Kosovo |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 143 |  Belgium |
8.31% | 31.49% | 22.68% |
| 144 |  Macao's income inequality |
8.21% | 30.85% | 21.46% |
| 145 |  Iceland |
7.68% | 29.92% | 22.27% |
| 146 |  income distribution in New Zealand |
7.64% | 32.55% | 15.14% |
| 147 |  income distribution in Norway |
7.45% | 26.78% | 25.70% |
| 148 | income distribution in Sweden |
7.38% | 25.60% | 26.95% |
| 149 |  France's income inequality |
7.34% | 28.54% | 22.76% |
| 150 |  Montenegro's wealth gap |
7.26% | 28.77% | 22.15% |
| 151 |  income distribution in Canada |
7.08% | 28.91% | 22.39% |
| 152 |  income distribution in North Macedonia |
6.93% | 27.42% | 23.47% |
| 153 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's wealth gap |
6.91% | 27.93% | 23.22% |
| 154 |  China's wealth gap |
6.90% | 28.47% | 24.27% |
| 155 |  India's income inequality |
6.88% | 31.55% | 21.39% |
| 156 |  income distribution in Albania |
6.80% | 30.60% | 19.49% |
| 157 |  United Kingdom's income inequality |
6.78% | 28.48% | 22.57% |
| 158 |  income distribution in Denmark |
6.74% | 25.91% | 24.64% |
| 159 |  Portugal's income inequality |
6.43% | 27.93% | 22.91% |
| 160 |  income distribution in Netherlands |
6.22% | 27.37% | 25.70% |
| 161 | Romania's income inequality |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 162 |  Finland's wealth gap |
5.43% | 26.06% | 23.77% |
| 163 |  Australia's wealth gap |
5.27% | 24.79% | 19.50% |
| 164 | Moldova's wealth gap |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
| 165 |  income distribution in Estonia |
4.68% | 23.71% | 24.58% |
| 166 | Italy's income inequality |
4.59% | 23.27% | 26.66% |
| 167 |  Lithuania's wealth gap |
4.49% | 24.92% | 24.78% |
| 168 | Poland's wealth gap |
4.34% | 22.45% | 28.02% |
| 169 | Slovenia |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 170 | Uzbekistan's income inequality |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 171 | Armenia |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 172 | income distribution in Kazakhstan |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 173 | income distribution in Ukraine |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 174 | income distribution in Kyrgyzstan |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 175 | Turkmenistan's income inequality |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 176 | Azerbaijan's income inequality |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 177 | Belarus |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 178 | income distribution in Georgia |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 179 | Tajikistan's income inequality |
4.22% | 24.72% | 27.71% |
| 180 |  Croatia's income inequality |
4.16% | 27.23% | 22.66% |
| 181 | Slovakia's wealth gap |
3.95% | 22.63% | 26.00% |
| 182 | Latvia |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.35% |
| 183 | Bulgaria |
3.52% | 21.64% | 27.18% |
| 184 | Hungary's wealth gap |
2.85% | 18.02% | 33.57% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.