In 1984, 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 15.47%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1984
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1984, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Malawi |
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's income inequality |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 |  Chile's income inequality |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 6 |  Ethiopia's wealth gap |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 |  Eritrea's wealth gap |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 |  Comoros's income inequality |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 9 |  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's income inequality |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 13 |  income distribution in Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 14 |  income distribution in Senegal |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 15 |  income distribution in Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 16 |  Somalia |
24.91% | 56.60% | 10.92% |
| 17 |  Iraq's income inequality |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 18 |  Botswana's income inequality |
24.36% | 60.98% | 7.94% |
| 19 |  Rwanda's wealth gap |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 20 |  income distribution in Mozambique |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 1984
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 wealth gap |
2.79% | 16.69% | 36.47% |
| 2 |  Poland |
4.88% | 23.16% | 27.75% |
| 3 |  Slovakia's income inequality |
4.04% | 22.50% | 27.72% |
| 4 |  Kazakhstan's income inequality |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Armenia |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 6 |  Ukraine |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 7 |  Kyrgyzstan's income inequality |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 8 |  Uzbekistan's income inequality |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 9 |  Turkmenistan's income inequality |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 10 |  income distribution in Belarus |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 11 |  Tajikistan's income inequality |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 12 |  Georgia's wealth gap |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 13 |  Azerbaijan's income inequality |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 14 |  Slovenia's income inequality |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 15 |  income distribution in Romania |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 16 |  income distribution in Bulgaria |
5.13% | 23.89% | 26.53% |
| 17 |  Latvia's wealth gap |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.36% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Norway |
7.88% | 26.57% | 26.27% |
| 19 |  Sweden's wealth gap |
9.96% | 28.40% | 26.14% |
| 20 |  Italy's income inequality |
4.75% | 23.76% | 26.14% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1984
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 15.47%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 15.70%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (64.09%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Hungary (2.79%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1984
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 | Maldives |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 3 | Kenya's income inequality |
34.81% | 66.26% | 7.30% |
| 4 | income distribution in Namibia |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 | Chile's income inequality |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 6 | Ethiopia |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 | income distribution in Eritrea |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 | Comoros's wealth gap |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 9 | 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's wealth gap |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 13 | Myanmar's income inequality |
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 | Somalia's wealth gap |
24.91% | 56.60% | 10.92% |
| 17 | Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 18 | Botswana's wealth gap |
24.36% | 60.98% | 7.94% |
| 19 | income distribution in Rwanda |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 20 | Mozambique's wealth gap |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
| 21 |  Thailand |
23.75% | 56.23% | 9.78% |
| 22 |  income distribution in Lesotho |
23.41% | 61.13% | 7.43% |
| 23 |  Antigua and Barbuda's income inequality |
23.31% | 55.92% | 8.07% |
| 24 |  Saint Lucia's wealth gap |
23.31% | 55.92% | 8.07% |
| 25 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis's income inequality |
23.31% | 55.92% | 8.07% |
| 26 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
23.31% | 55.92% | 8.07% |
| 27 |  income distribution in Grenada |
23.31% | 55.92% | 8.07% |
| 28 |  Barbados |
23.31% | 55.92% | 8.07% |
| 29 |  income distribution in Dominica |
23.31% | 55.92% | 8.07% |
| 30 |  Guinea-Bissau's income inequality |
23.28% | 59.57% | 7.71% |
| 31 |  Madagascar |
23.17% | 55.68% | 10.81% |
| 32 |  Saudi Arabia |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 33 |  income distribution in Iran |
23.05% | 57.43% | 11.09% |
| 34 |  Qatar's income inequality |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 35 |  Ecuador |
22.86% | 54.43% | 8.90% |
| 36 |  Dominican Republic |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 37 |  Yemen |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 38 |  income distribution in Bahamas |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  Guatemala's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  Paraguay's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  Suriname |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  income distribution in Belize |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  Bolivia's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  Guyana |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  income distribution in Jamaica |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  Venezuela |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 47 |  Trinidad and Tobago's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 48 |  Honduras's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 49 |  Nicaragua's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 50 |  income distribution in Haiti |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 51 |  Panama |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 52 |  Bahrain |
22.21% | 56.52% | 10.89% |
| 53 |  Central African Republic |
22.03% | 64.28% | 5.68% |
| 54 |  Angola |
22.00% | 58.03% | 9.15% |
| 55 |  Tunisia |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 56 |  Seychelles's wealth gap |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 57 |  income distribution in Mali |
21.64% | 58.55% | 9.30% |
| 58 |  income distribution in Burkina Faso |
21.27% | 57.95% | 10.09% |
| 59 |  Kuwait |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 60 |  Lebanon |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 61 |  Palestine |
20.18% | 53.50% | 11.75% |
| 62 |  Costa Rica's income inequality |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 63 |  income distribution in Malaysia |
20.13% | 47.48% | 13.83% |
| 64 |  United Arab Emirates's wealth gap |
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 |  Cuba's wealth gap |
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 |  Gambia |
18.57% | 55.26% | 10.21% |
| 73 |  Cameroon's wealth gap |
18.49% | 54.31% | 11.51% |
| 74 |  income distribution in Bhutan |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 75 |  Papua New Guinea's wealth gap |
18.06% | 50.25% | 10.91% |
| 76 |  Jordan's wealth gap |
17.80% | 49.33% | 14.14% |
| 77 |  Israel's wealth gap |
17.65% | 49.29% | 13.50% |
| 78 |  Niger's income inequality |
17.41% | 47.52% | 14.91% |
| 79 |  income distribution in Gabon |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 80 |  Egypt's wealth gap |
16.53% | 47.14% | 17.04% |
| 81 |  Benin's wealth gap |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 82 |  Libya's income inequality |
16.30% | 46.89% | 15.08% |
| 83 |  Afghanistan's wealth gap |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 84 |  Zimbabwe's income inequality |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 85 |  income distribution in Pakistan |
15.73% | 43.94% | 16.25% |
| 86 |  Algeria's income inequality |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 87 |  Djibouti |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 88 |  Uganda's wealth gap |
15.20% | 50.75% | 11.66% |
| 89 |  Argentina |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 90 |  income distribution in Mongolia |
14.84% | 42.51% | 13.90% |
| 91 |  Indonesia's income inequality |
14.79% | 41.24% | 16.46% |
| 92 |  income distribution in Sri Lanka |
14.77% | 42.23% | 16.65% |
| 93 |  Hong Kong's wealth gap |
14.52% | 42.90% | 18.28% |
| 94 |  Chad's income inequality |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 95 |  South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 96 |  Togo's income inequality |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 97 |  Mauritius |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 98 |  Morocco's income inequality |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 99 |  Luxembourg's income inequality |
13.01% | 35.28% | 21.50% |
| 100 |  Sierra Leone's wealth gap |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 101 |  Mauritania's wealth gap |
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 |  Bangladesh's wealth gap |
12.33% | 37.74% | 19.47% |
| 105 |  Equatorial Guinea's wealth gap |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 106 |  North Korea's income inequality |
11.88% | 38.19% | 18.32% |
| 107 |  Tanzania's wealth gap |
11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% |
| 108 |  Cyprus's income inequality |
11.46% | 37.02% | 18.24% |
| 109 |  Ghana's wealth gap |
11.44% | 43.49% | 15.56% |
| 110 |  Sudan |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 111 |  Burundi |
11.09% | 42.83% | 16.19% |
| 112 |  Spain's income inequality |
10.79% | 34.93% | 20.50% |
| 113 |  Switzerland's income inequality |
10.66% | 31.12% | 23.45% |
| 114 |  Singapore |
10.37% | 35.09% | 21.32% |
| 115 |  Japan's income inequality |
10.23% | 35.41% | 20.60% |
| 116 |  South Africa's income inequality |
10.14% | 47.18% | 13.50% |
| 117 |  income distribution in Taiwan |
10.00% | 35.41% | 17.37% |
| 118 | Sweden's wealth gap |
9.96% | 28.40% | 26.14% |
| 119 |  Guinea's income inequality |
9.73% | 46.54% | 10.93% |
| 120 |  Nepal |
9.69% | 33.81% | 22.33% |
| 121 |  Vanuatu |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 122 |  Palau's wealth gap |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 123 |  Samoa's income inequality |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 124 |  Kiribati's income inequality |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 125 |  income distribution in Marshall Islands |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 126 |  Tuvalu |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 127 |  Fiji's wealth gap |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 128 |  income distribution in Solomon Islands |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 129 |  Tonga's wealth gap |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 130 |  Nauru's wealth gap |
9.44% | 35.72% | 21.04% |
| 131 |  Germany's wealth gap |
9.41% | 28.49% | 23.70% |
| 132 |  income distribution in Serbia |
9.36% | 32.41% | 20.84% |
| 133 |  San Marino |
9.35% | 32.70% | 20.21% |
| 134 |  Monaco's income inequality |
9.35% | 32.70% | 20.21% |
| 135 |  Liechtenstein |
9.35% | 32.70% | 20.21% |
| 136 |  income distribution in Andorra |
9.35% | 32.70% | 20.21% |
| 137 |  Nigeria's wealth gap |
9.26% | 43.53% | 13.93% |
| 138 |  income distribution in Austria |
9.14% | 31.40% | 23.11% |
| 139 |  Sao Tome and Principe |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 140 |  India's income inequality |
9.12% | 34.24% | 20.40% |
| 141 |  Denmark's wealth gap |
9.10% | 27.76% | 24.65% |
| 142 |  income distribution in Ireland |
8.96% | 31.16% | 22.33% |
| 143 |  Greece's income inequality |
8.92% | 34.92% | 18.27% |
| 144 |  income distribution in Malta |
8.63% | 30.59% | 21.97% |
| 145 |  Kosovo's wealth gap |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 146 |  New Zealand |
8.53% | 33.84% | 14.91% |
| 147 |  Macao's wealth gap |
8.21% | 30.85% | 21.46% |
| 148 | Norway's wealth gap |
7.88% | 26.57% | 26.27% |
| 149 |  Canada |
7.73% | 29.07% | 22.17% |
| 150 |  Montenegro's income inequality |
7.72% | 29.70% | 21.45% |
| 151 |  Iceland's income inequality |
7.69% | 29.93% | 22.26% |
| 152 |  China's wealth gap |
7.65% | 29.45% | 23.75% |
| 153 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's income inequality |
7.43% | 28.92% | 22.49% |
| 154 |  North Macedonia's income inequality |
7.40% | 28.39% | 22.83% |
| 155 |  Portugal's wealth gap |
7.29% | 31.76% | 20.85% |
| 156 |  Belgium's income inequality |
7.27% | 30.41% | 22.61% |
| 157 |  income distribution in United Kingdom |
7.15% | 29.64% | 21.80% |
| 158 |  France's income inequality |
7.01% | 28.50% | 22.59% |
| 159 |  Albania's income inequality |
6.79% | 30.59% | 19.49% |
| 160 |  Netherlands |
6.26% | 27.76% | 24.41% |
| 161 |  Finland's wealth gap |
5.99% | 26.71% | 24.32% |
| 162 | Romania |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 163 |  Australia |
5.64% | 25.30% | 19.43% |
| 164 | Bulgaria's wealth gap |
5.13% | 23.89% | 26.53% |
| 165 |  Moldova |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
| 166 | income distribution in Poland |
4.88% | 23.16% | 27.75% |
| 167 | income distribution in Italy |
4.75% | 23.76% | 26.14% |
| 168 | income distribution in Kazakhstan |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 169 | income distribution in Armenia |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 170 | Ukraine's wealth gap |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 171 | income distribution in Kyrgyzstan |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 172 | Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 173 | income distribution in Turkmenistan |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 174 | income distribution in Belarus |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 175 | Tajikistan |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 176 | income distribution in Georgia |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 177 | Azerbaijan |
4.69% | 24.71% | 27.65% |
| 178 |  Estonia's income inequality |
4.68% | 23.71% | 24.57% |
| 179 |  Lithuania |
4.49% | 24.92% | 24.78% |
| 180 | Slovenia's wealth gap |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 181 |  Croatia's income inequality |
4.17% | 27.46% | 22.02% |
| 182 | Slovakia's wealth gap |
4.04% | 22.50% | 27.72% |
| 183 | Latvia's wealth gap |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.36% |
| 184 | Hungary's wealth gap |
2.79% | 16.69% | 36.47% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.