In 1986, 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 15.53%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1986
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1986, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Malawi's wealth gap |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 |  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 |
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's wealth gap |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 10 |  Turkey |
28.31% | 60.31% | 10.54% |
| 11 |  Brazil's income inequality |
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 |  Botswana's wealth gap |
26.03% | 62.00% | 7.73% |
| 15 |  income distribution in Senegal |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 16 |  Peru's income inequality |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 17 |  Somalia's income inequality |
25.05% | 56.65% | 10.92% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 19 |  income distribution in Thailand |
24.16% | 56.37% | 9.84% |
| 20 |  income distribution in Madagascar |
24.13% | 55.86% | 10.93% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 1986
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 |
2.95% | 17.08% | 36.11% |
| 2 |  income distribution in Slovakia |
4.14% | 22.59% | 27.71% |
| 3 |  Norway's income inequality |
5.81% | 23.99% | 27.70% |
| 4 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 5 |  Kazakhstan's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 6 |  Armenia's income inequality |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 7 |  Kyrgyzstan's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 8 |  Ukraine's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 9 |  Belarus |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 10 |  income distribution in Turkmenistan |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 11 |  income distribution in Azerbaijan |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 12 |  Georgia's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 13 |  Tajikistan's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 14 |  Bulgaria's income inequality |
3.35% | 20.93% | 27.52% |
| 15 |  Poland's wealth gap |
4.26% | 22.63% | 27.38% |
| 16 |  Slovenia |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 17 |  income distribution in Romania |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Latvia |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.36% |
| 19 |  Sweden |
9.54% | 28.05% | 26.08% |
| 20 |  Moldova's income inequality |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1986
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 15.53%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 15.62%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (64.09%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Hungary (2.95%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1986
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | income distribution in 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 | income distribution in Namibia |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 | Chile's income inequality |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 6 | income distribution in Ethiopia |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 | Eritrea's income inequality |
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 | income distribution in Turkey |
28.31% | 60.31% | 10.54% |
| 11 | Brazil |
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 | income distribution in Botswana |
26.03% | 62.00% | 7.73% |
| 15 | Senegal |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 16 | income distribution in Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 17 | Somalia's wealth gap |
25.05% | 56.65% | 10.92% |
| 18 | income distribution in Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 19 | Thailand |
24.16% | 56.37% | 9.84% |
| 20 | income distribution in Madagascar |
24.13% | 55.86% | 10.93% |
| 21 |  Rwanda's wealth gap |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 22 |  Mozambique's wealth gap |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
| 23 |  Lesotho's wealth gap |
23.41% | 61.13% | 7.43% |
| 24 |  Guinea-Bissau's wealth gap |
23.28% | 59.57% | 7.71% |
| 25 |  income distribution in Saudi Arabia |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 26 |  income distribution in Saint Lucia |
23.07% | 55.92% | 8.00% |
| 27 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis |
23.07% | 55.92% | 8.00% |
| 28 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's wealth gap |
23.07% | 55.92% | 8.00% |
| 29 |  Grenada's wealth gap |
23.07% | 55.92% | 8.00% |
| 30 |  Antigua and Barbuda |
23.07% | 55.92% | 8.00% |
| 31 |  income distribution in Dominica |
23.07% | 55.92% | 8.00% |
| 32 |  Barbados's income inequality |
23.07% | 55.92% | 8.00% |
| 33 |  Iran's income inequality |
23.05% | 57.43% | 11.09% |
| 34 |  Qatar's income inequality |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 35 |  Ecuador's income inequality |
22.86% | 54.43% | 8.90% |
| 36 |  Dominican Republic's income inequality |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 37 |  Yemen's income inequality |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 38 |  income distribution in Bahamas |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  Guatemala |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  Paraguay's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  Suriname's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  Belize's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  Bolivia's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  Guyana's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  Jamaica's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  Venezuela's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 47 |  income distribution in Trinidad and Tobago |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 48 |  income distribution in Honduras |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 49 |  Nicaragua |
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 |  income distribution in 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's wealth gap |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 56 |  Seychelles's wealth gap |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 57 |  Mali's income inequality |
21.64% | 58.55% | 9.30% |
| 58 |  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 wealth gap |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 63 |  United Arab Emirates |
20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% |
| 64 |  Oman's wealth gap |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 65 |  Malaysia's income inequality |
19.47% | 46.74% | 14.14% |
| 66 |  El Salvador's income inequality |
19.23% | 50.85% | 7.08% |
| 67 |  Philippines |
19.12% | 49.06% | 13.07% |
| 68 |  Uruguay's income inequality |
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 wealth gap |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 72 |  Gambia |
18.57% | 55.26% | 10.21% |
| 73 |  Cameroon's income inequality |
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 |  Niger's wealth gap |
17.41% | 47.52% | 14.91% |
| 78 |  Israel's income inequality |
17.39% | 49.19% | 13.53% |
| 79 |  Gabon's wealth gap |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 80 |  Egypt |
16.53% | 47.14% | 17.04% |
| 81 |  Benin's wealth gap |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 82 |  income distribution in Afghanistan |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 83 |  Indonesia |
16.09% | 43.17% | 15.39% |
| 84 |  income distribution in Zimbabwe |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 85 |  Libya's wealth gap |
15.91% | 46.76% | 15.06% |
| 86 |  income distribution in Pakistan |
15.73% | 43.94% | 16.25% |
| 87 |  Algeria |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 88 |  income distribution in Sri Lanka |
15.41% | 42.76% | 16.59% |
| 89 |  Djibouti's wealth gap |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 90 |  Uganda |
15.20% | 50.75% | 11.66% |
| 91 |  Hong Kong's income inequality |
15.07% | 43.33% | 18.52% |
| 92 |  Argentina's wealth gap |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 93 |  Mongolia's wealth gap |
14.84% | 42.51% | 13.90% |
| 94 |  Chad's income inequality |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 95 |  South Sudan's income inequality |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 96 |  Togo |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 97 |  Mauritius |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 98 |  Bangladesh |
13.44% | 39.47% | 18.69% |
| 99 |  Morocco's income inequality |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 100 |  Luxembourg's wealth gap |
13.13% | 35.30% | 21.43% |
| 101 |  income distribution in Sierra Leone |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 102 |  Mauritania |
12.81% | 48.09% | 12.18% |
| 103 |  Liberia's income inequality |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 104 |  Mexico |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 105 |  Nepal's wealth gap |
12.04% | 37.26% | 20.36% |
| 106 |  Equatorial Guinea's wealth gap |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 107 |  North Korea |
11.88% | 38.19% | 18.32% |
| 108 |  Spain's income inequality |
11.74% | 36.36% | 19.57% |
| 109 |  Cyprus's wealth gap |
11.62% | 37.25% | 18.16% |
| 110 |  Tanzania's income inequality |
11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% |
| 111 |  Ghana's wealth gap |
11.44% | 43.49% | 15.56% |
| 112 |  Sudan's wealth gap |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 113 |  India's income inequality |
11.09% | 35.97% | 19.80% |
| 114 |  Burundi |
11.09% | 42.83% | 16.19% |
| 115 |  Japan's income inequality |
11.02% | 36.81% | 19.77% |
| 116 |  Switzerland's income inequality |
10.70% | 31.23% | 23.44% |
| 117 |  Singapore's income inequality |
10.45% | 36.28% | 20.73% |
| 118 |  South Africa's wealth gap |
10.14% | 47.18% | 13.50% |
| 119 |  Germany |
9.97% | 29.37% | 23.34% |
| 120 |  Taiwan's income inequality |
9.91% | 35.74% | 17.00% |
| 121 |  Solomon Islands |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 122 |  Vanuatu's wealth gap |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 123 |  Fiji's wealth gap |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 124 |  Palau's income inequality |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 125 |  income distribution in Kiribati |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 126 |  Samoa's wealth gap |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 127 |  Marshall Islands's income inequality |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 128 |  Tuvalu |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 129 |  Tonga |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 130 |  Nauru's wealth gap |
9.76% | 35.91% | 20.95% |
| 131 |  income distribution in Guinea |
9.73% | 46.54% | 10.93% |
| 132 |  income distribution in Nigeria |
9.55% | 44.00% | 13.59% |
| 133 | income distribution in Sweden |
9.54% | 28.05% | 26.08% |
| 134 |  Andorra's wealth gap |
9.35% | 32.56% | 20.07% |
| 135 |  Monaco's wealth gap |
9.35% | 32.56% | 20.07% |
| 136 |  San Marino's income inequality |
9.35% | 32.56% | 20.07% |
| 137 |  Liechtenstein's income inequality |
9.35% | 32.56% | 20.07% |
| 138 |  income distribution in Serbia |
9.28% | 30.59% | 21.00% |
| 139 |  Greece |
9.25% | 33.56% | 18.36% |
| 140 |  Austria's income inequality |
9.16% | 31.43% | 22.97% |
| 141 |  Sao Tome and Principe's income inequality |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 142 |  Malta |
8.92% | 30.87% | 21.88% |
| 143 |  income distribution in Ireland |
8.73% | 30.69% | 22.58% |
| 144 |  Denmark's wealth gap |
8.69% | 27.34% | 24.97% |
| 145 |  Kosovo's wealth gap |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 146 |  Macao's income inequality |
8.21% | 30.85% | 21.46% |
| 147 |  China's income inequality |
8.15% | 30.54% | 22.13% |
| 148 |  income distribution in Portugal |
8.07% | 32.49% | 20.72% |
| 149 |  income distribution in Belgium |
7.88% | 32.23% | 21.34% |
| 150 |  France's wealth gap |
7.84% | 29.78% | 22.39% |
| 151 |  Canada's income inequality |
7.81% | 29.65% | 21.11% |
| 152 |  Iceland's income inequality |
7.68% | 29.93% | 22.27% |
| 153 |  United Kingdom's wealth gap |
7.43% | 29.89% | 21.48% |
| 154 |  New Zealand's income inequality |
7.22% | 31.29% | 15.88% |
| 155 |  Albania's wealth gap |
6.79% | 30.59% | 19.48% |
| 156 |  income distribution in Montenegro |
6.75% | 28.68% | 21.03% |
| 157 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
6.52% | 27.94% | 22.12% |
| 158 |  North Macedonia's wealth gap |
6.49% | 27.37% | 22.51% |
| 159 |  Australia's wealth gap |
6.37% | 26.29% | 18.89% |
| 160 |  Netherlands's income inequality |
6.23% | 27.80% | 24.49% |
| 161 | Norway's income inequality |
5.81% | 23.99% | 27.70% |
| 162 |  income distribution in Italy |
5.74% | 25.30% | 24.65% |
| 163 | Romania's wealth gap |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 164 |  Finland's wealth gap |
5.32% | 26.00% | 23.89% |
| 165 | income distribution in Uzbekistan |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 166 | Kazakhstan's income inequality |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 167 | Armenia |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 168 | Kyrgyzstan |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 169 | Ukraine's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 170 | Belarus's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 171 | Turkmenistan's income inequality |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 172 | Azerbaijan's wealth gap |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 173 | Georgia's income inequality |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 174 | income distribution in Tajikistan |
5.00% | 24.68% | 27.61% |
| 175 | Moldova's income inequality |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
| 176 |  Estonia |
4.68% | 23.72% | 24.54% |
| 177 |  Lithuania's income inequality |
4.49% | 24.92% | 24.78% |
| 178 | income distribution in Slovenia |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 179 | Poland |
4.26% | 22.63% | 27.38% |
| 180 |  Croatia |
4.23% | 27.66% | 21.61% |
| 181 | income distribution in Slovakia |
4.14% | 22.59% | 27.71% |
| 182 | Latvia's income inequality |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.36% |
| 183 | Bulgaria's wealth gap |
3.35% | 20.93% | 27.52% |
| 184 | Hungary's wealth gap |
2.95% | 17.08% | 36.11% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.