In 1983, 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 15.41%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1983
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1983, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Malawi's income inequality |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 |  Maldives's wealth gap |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 3 |  Kenya's wealth gap |
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 |  Ethiopia's income inequality |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 |  Eritrea's wealth gap |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 |  income distribution in Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 9 |  Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 10 |  Turkey's income inequality |
28.31% | 60.31% | 10.54% |
| 11 |  income distribution in Brazil |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 12 |  income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 13 |  income distribution in Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 14 |  Senegal |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 15 |  Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 16 |  Somalia's wealth gap |
24.84% | 56.57% | 10.92% |
| 17 |  Iraq |
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's wealth gap |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 1983
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 |
2.80% | 17.27% | 35.10% |
| 2 |  income distribution in Poland |
4.34% | 22.45% | 28.02% |
| 3 |  income distribution in Ukraine |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 4 |  income distribution in Armenia |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 5 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 6 |  Kazakhstan's wealth gap |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 7 |  income distribution in Belarus |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 8 |  Turkmenistan |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 9 |  Azerbaijan's income inequality |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 10 |  Georgia's income inequality |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 11 |  Tajikistan |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 12 |  income distribution in Kyrgyzstan |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 13 |  Slovakia |
4.05% | 22.54% | 27.64% |
| 14 |  Slovenia's wealth gap |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 15 |  Romania |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 16 |  Bulgaria's income inequality |
5.42% | 24.39% | 26.88% |
| 17 |  Italy's wealth gap |
4.50% | 23.35% | 26.52% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Sweden |
8.69% | 27.03% | 26.36% |
| 19 |  Latvia |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.35% |
| 20 |  Norway's wealth gap |
7.09% | 25.97% | 26.32% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1983
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 15.41%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 15.72%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (64.09%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Hungary (2.80%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1983
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi's wealth gap |
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 wealth gap |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 | income distribution in Chile |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 6 | income distribution in Ethiopia |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 | income distribution in Eritrea |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 | Comoros's income inequality |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 9 | income distribution in Colombia |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 10 | Turkey's wealth gap |
28.31% | 60.31% | 10.54% |
| 11 | Brazil's income inequality |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 12 | Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 13 | Myanmar's wealth gap |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 14 | Senegal's wealth gap |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 15 | Peru's wealth gap |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 16 | income distribution in Somalia |
24.84% | 56.57% | 10.92% |
| 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 wealth gap |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 20 | Mozambique |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
| 21 |  income distribution in Thailand |
23.52% | 56.16% | 9.74% |
| 22 |  income distribution in Barbados |
23.42% | 55.93% | 8.10% |
| 23 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's income inequality |
23.42% | 55.93% | 8.10% |
| 24 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis's wealth gap |
23.42% | 55.93% | 8.10% |
| 25 |  Antigua and Barbuda |
23.42% | 55.93% | 8.10% |
| 26 |  Saint Lucia's income inequality |
23.42% | 55.93% | 8.10% |
| 27 |  Dominica's income inequality |
23.42% | 55.93% | 8.10% |
| 28 |  Grenada's income inequality |
23.42% | 55.93% | 8.10% |
| 29 |  Lesotho's income inequality |
23.41% | 61.13% | 7.43% |
| 30 |  Guinea-Bissau's income inequality |
23.28% | 59.57% | 7.71% |
| 31 |  Saudi Arabia's wealth gap |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 32 |  Iran |
23.05% | 57.43% | 11.09% |
| 33 |  Qatar's wealth gap |
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 |  Yemen's wealth gap |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 37 |  Madagascar's income inequality |
22.69% | 55.59% | 10.75% |
| 38 |  Paraguay's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  Bahamas |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  Suriname's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  Belize's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  Guatemala's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  income distribution in Guyana |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  Bolivia's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  Jamaica's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  Venezuela's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 47 |  Trinidad and Tobago |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 48 |  Nicaragua's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 49 |  income distribution in Honduras |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 50 |  Haiti's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 51 |  Panama's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 52 |  Bahrain's income inequality |
22.21% | 56.52% | 10.89% |
| 53 |  income distribution in Central African Republic |
22.03% | 64.28% | 5.68% |
| 54 |  Angola's wealth gap |
22.00% | 58.03% | 9.15% |
| 55 |  income distribution in Tunisia |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 56 |  income distribution in Seychelles |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 57 |  Mali's income inequality |
21.64% | 58.55% | 9.30% |
| 58 |  Burkina Faso's income inequality |
21.27% | 57.95% | 10.09% |
| 59 |  Kuwait's wealth gap |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 60 |  Lebanon's income inequality |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 61 |  income distribution in Palestine |
20.18% | 53.50% | 11.75% |
| 62 |  Costa Rica's wealth gap |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 63 |  income distribution in Malaysia |
20.13% | 47.48% | 13.83% |
| 64 |  United Arab Emirates's income inequality |
20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% |
| 65 |  Oman's wealth gap |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 66 |  Philippines's income inequality |
19.57% | 49.42% | 13.05% |
| 67 |  income distribution in El Salvador |
19.23% | 50.85% | 7.08% |
| 68 |  income distribution in Uruguay |
19.01% | 48.42% | 13.61% |
| 69 |  Cuba |
18.91% | 51.14% | 10.23% |
| 70 |  income distribution in Zambia |
18.86% | 58.81% | 5.56% |
| 71 |  Congo's wealth gap |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 72 |  income distribution in Gambia |
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 |  income distribution in Papua New Guinea |
18.06% | 50.25% | 10.91% |
| 76 |  Jordan's income inequality |
17.80% | 49.33% | 14.14% |
| 77 |  Israel's income inequality |
17.79% | 49.35% | 13.48% |
| 78 |  Niger's income inequality |
17.41% | 47.52% | 14.91% |
| 79 |  Gabon's wealth gap |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 80 |  income distribution in Egypt |
16.53% | 47.14% | 17.04% |
| 81 |  Benin |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 82 |  Libya's wealth gap |
16.28% | 46.88% | 15.09% |
| 83 |  Afghanistan |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 84 |  Zimbabwe's income inequality |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 85 |  Pakistan |
15.73% | 43.94% | 16.25% |
| 86 |  income distribution in Algeria |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 87 |  Djibouti |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 88 |  Uganda |
15.20% | 50.75% | 11.66% |
| 89 |  Argentina's income inequality |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 90 |  Mongolia's income inequality |
14.84% | 42.51% | 13.90% |
| 91 |  income distribution in Indonesia |
14.79% | 41.24% | 16.46% |
| 92 |  Sri Lanka's wealth gap |
14.77% | 42.23% | 16.65% |
| 93 |  Chad's wealth gap |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 94 |  income distribution in South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 95 |  Hong Kong's income inequality |
14.18% | 42.63% | 18.13% |
| 96 |  Togo's income inequality |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 97 |  Mauritius's wealth gap |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 98 |  income distribution in Morocco |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 99 |  income distribution in Luxembourg |
12.98% | 35.25% | 21.50% |
| 100 |  income distribution in Sierra Leone |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 101 |  Mauritania's income inequality |
12.81% | 48.09% | 12.18% |
| 102 |  Liberia's wealth gap |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 103 |  Mexico |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 104 |  income distribution in Equatorial Guinea |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 105 |  North Korea's wealth gap |
11.88% | 38.19% | 18.32% |
| 106 |  Bangladesh's wealth gap |
11.64% | 36.52% | 19.97% |
| 107 |  Tanzania's wealth gap |
11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% |
| 108 |  Cyprus's wealth gap |
11.50% | 37.06% | 18.22% |
| 109 |  Ghana's wealth gap |
11.44% | 43.49% | 15.56% |
| 110 |  Sudan's income inequality |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 111 |  Burundi |
11.09% | 42.83% | 16.19% |
| 112 |  income distribution in Spain |
10.92% | 34.83% | 20.55% |
| 113 |  Singapore's income inequality |
10.65% | 35.60% | 21.10% |
| 114 |  income distribution in Switzerland |
10.64% | 30.92% | 23.65% |
| 115 |  India |
10.57% | 36.15% | 19.83% |
| 116 |  South Africa |
10.14% | 47.18% | 13.50% |
| 117 |  Japan |
10.08% | 35.07% | 20.82% |
| 118 |  Taiwan's income inequality |
10.07% | 35.48% | 17.71% |
| 119 |  income distribution in Guinea |
9.73% | 46.54% | 10.93% |
| 120 |  Nepal |
9.69% | 33.81% | 22.33% |
| 121 |  Germany's income inequality |
9.40% | 28.47% | 23.42% |
| 122 |  income distribution in Solomon Islands |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 123 |  Palau |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 124 |  income distribution in Fiji |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 125 |  income distribution in Tuvalu |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 126 |  income distribution in Kiribati |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 127 |  Samoa's wealth gap |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 128 |  Tonga's income inequality |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 129 |  Vanuatu's wealth gap |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 130 |  Nauru's income inequality |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 131 |  income distribution in Marshall Islands |
9.29% | 35.62% | 21.08% |
| 132 |  Nigeria's income inequality |
9.26% | 43.53% | 13.93% |
| 133 |  Ireland's wealth gap |
9.21% | 32.05% | 21.43% |
| 134 |  income distribution in Serbia |
9.20% | 29.78% | 21.94% |
| 135 |  San Marino |
9.15% | 32.36% | 20.37% |
| 136 |  Monaco's wealth gap |
9.15% | 32.36% | 20.37% |
| 137 |  Andorra's income inequality |
9.15% | 32.36% | 20.37% |
| 138 |  Liechtenstein's wealth gap |
9.15% | 32.36% | 20.37% |
| 139 |  Sao Tome and Principe's income inequality |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 140 |  Austria |
9.13% | 31.45% | 23.12% |
| 141 |  Greece |
8.93% | 35.56% | 18.18% |
| 142 | Sweden's income inequality |
8.69% | 27.03% | 26.36% |
| 143 |  income distribution in New Zealand |
8.63% | 34.58% | 14.49% |
| 144 |  Kosovo's income inequality |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 145 |  Malta |
8.53% | 30.49% | 22.00% |
| 146 |  Denmark |
8.34% | 27.15% | 24.61% |
| 147 |  income distribution in Macao |
8.21% | 30.85% | 21.46% |
| 148 |  Iceland's wealth gap |
7.69% | 29.94% | 22.25% |
| 149 |  Belgium |
7.55% | 30.54% | 22.76% |
| 150 |  income distribution in Canada |
7.39% | 28.86% | 22.14% |
| 151 |  Portugal's wealth gap |
7.38% | 30.73% | 21.70% |
| 152 |  income distribution in China |
7.31% | 28.96% | 24.02% |
| 153 |  Montenegro's income inequality |
7.26% | 28.77% | 22.15% |
| 154 | Norway's wealth gap |
7.09% | 25.97% | 26.32% |
| 155 |  France's wealth gap |
6.98% | 28.33% | 22.77% |
| 156 |  North Macedonia's income inequality |
6.93% | 27.42% | 23.48% |
| 157 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's income inequality |
6.90% | 27.92% | 23.23% |
| 158 |  United Kingdom's wealth gap |
6.88% | 29.05% | 22.19% |
| 159 |  Albania's income inequality |
6.80% | 30.61% | 19.48% |
| 160 |  Netherlands's income inequality |
6.24% | 27.64% | 24.58% |
| 161 | income distribution in Romania |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 162 | Bulgaria |
5.42% | 24.39% | 26.88% |
| 163 |  Finland |
5.31% | 25.87% | 23.30% |
| 164 |  Australia's income inequality |
5.29% | 24.83% | 19.45% |
| 165 |  Moldova |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
| 166 |  Estonia's income inequality |
4.68% | 23.71% | 24.57% |
| 167 | Ukraine's income inequality |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 168 | Armenia's wealth gap |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 169 | Uzbekistan's income inequality |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 170 | Kazakhstan's income inequality |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 171 | income distribution in Belarus |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 172 | Turkmenistan's wealth gap |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 173 | income distribution in Azerbaijan |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 174 | income distribution in Georgia |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 175 | income distribution in Tajikistan |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 176 | Kyrgyzstan's income inequality |
4.54% | 24.71% | 27.67% |
| 177 | Italy |
4.50% | 23.35% | 26.52% |
| 178 |  Lithuania |
4.49% | 24.92% | 24.78% |
| 179 | Poland's income inequality |
4.34% | 22.45% | 28.02% |
| 180 | income distribution in Slovenia |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 181 |  Croatia's income inequality |
4.16% | 27.23% | 22.66% |
| 182 | Slovakia's income inequality |
4.05% | 22.54% | 27.64% |
| 183 | Latvia |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.35% |
| 184 | income distribution in Hungary |
2.80% | 17.27% | 35.10% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.