In 1988, 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 15.71%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1988
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1988, 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 |  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 |  Eritrea's wealth gap |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 |  Ethiopia's income inequality |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 |  Botswana's wealth gap |
29.36% | 64.03% | 7.31% |
| 9 |  Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 10 |  income distribution in Colombia |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 11 |  Turkey |
27.37% | 59.59% | 10.78% |
| 12 |  Brazil's income inequality |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 13 |  income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 14 |  Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 15 |  Somalia's income inequality |
25.26% | 56.72% | 10.92% |
| 16 |  Senegal's income inequality |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 17 |  Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Madagascar |
25.08% | 56.05% | 11.06% |
| 19 |  Thailand's wealth gap |
24.50% | 56.49% | 9.89% |
| 20 |  income distribution in Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 1988
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 |
3.86% | 19.04% | 34.26% |
| 2 |  Bulgaria's wealth gap |
2.05% | 17.52% | 28.41% |
| 3 |  income distribution in Norway |
5.04% | 22.83% | 28.23% |
| 4 |  Poland's income inequality |
4.23% | 21.80% | 28.02% |
| 5 |  Azerbaijan's income inequality |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 6 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 7 |  Armenia's wealth gap |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 8 |  Belarus |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 9 |  Ukraine's income inequality |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 10 |  Tajikistan's income inequality |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 11 |  Kazakhstan |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 12 |  Georgia's income inequality |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 13 |  Kyrgyzstan's income inequality |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 14 |  Turkmenistan's income inequality |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 15 |  Slovakia's income inequality |
4.57% | 23.38% | 27.31% |
| 16 |  Slovenia's wealth gap |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 17 |  Romania |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 18 |  Latvia's income inequality |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.35% |
| 19 |  Sweden's wealth gap |
10.31% | 28.82% | 25.96% |
| 20 |  income distribution in Moldova |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1988
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 15.71%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 15.53%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (64.09%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Bulgaria (2.05%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1988
| # | 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 | income distribution in Namibia |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 | Chile's income inequality |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 6 | Eritrea's income inequality |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 7 | Ethiopia's income inequality |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 | income distribution in Botswana |
29.36% | 64.03% | 7.31% |
| 9 | Comoros's income inequality |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 10 | Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 11 | income distribution in Turkey |
27.37% | 59.59% | 10.78% |
| 12 | Brazil's income inequality |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 13 | income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 14 | Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 15 | income distribution in Somalia |
25.26% | 56.72% | 10.92% |
| 16 | income distribution in Senegal |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 17 | income distribution in Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 18 | Madagascar's income inequality |
25.08% | 56.05% | 11.06% |
| 19 | Thailand's income inequality |
24.50% | 56.49% | 9.89% |
| 20 | Iraq's wealth gap |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 21 |  Rwanda's income inequality |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 22 |  income distribution in Mozambique |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
| 23 |  income distribution in Guinea-Bissau |
23.28% | 59.57% | 7.71% |
| 24 |  Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 25 |  Lesotho |
23.16% | 61.94% | 6.82% |
| 26 |  Qatar |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 27 |  income distribution in Ecuador |
22.86% | 54.43% | 8.90% |
| 28 |  Saint Lucia's income inequality |
22.83% | 55.91% | 7.93% |
| 29 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's income inequality |
22.83% | 55.91% | 7.93% |
| 30 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis |
22.83% | 55.91% | 7.93% |
| 31 |  Grenada's income inequality |
22.83% | 55.91% | 7.93% |
| 32 |  Antigua and Barbuda's income inequality |
22.83% | 55.91% | 7.93% |
| 33 |  Dominica |
22.83% | 55.91% | 7.93% |
| 34 |  Barbados's wealth gap |
22.83% | 55.91% | 7.93% |
| 35 |  Dominican Republic |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 36 |  Yemen |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 37 |  income distribution in Jamaica |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 38 |  Honduras's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  Haiti |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  income distribution in Paraguay |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  income distribution in Guatemala |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  Nicaragua's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  Guyana |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  income distribution in Panama |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  Trinidad and Tobago |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  Belize |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 47 |  Venezuela's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 48 |  Suriname |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 49 |  income distribution in Bolivia |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 50 |  Bahamas's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 51 |  income distribution in Bahrain |
22.21% | 56.52% | 10.89% |
| 52 |  income distribution in Central African Republic |
22.03% | 64.28% | 5.68% |
| 53 |  Angola's income inequality |
22.00% | 58.03% | 9.15% |
| 54 |  Tunisia's income inequality |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 55 |  Seychelles |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 56 |  Iran's wealth gap |
21.72% | 55.69% | 11.87% |
| 57 |  Mali |
21.64% | 58.55% | 9.30% |
| 58 |  Burkina Faso's wealth gap |
21.27% | 57.95% | 10.09% |
| 59 |  income distribution in Kuwait |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 60 |  Lebanon's income inequality |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 61 |  Palestine's income inequality |
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 |  income distribution in El Salvador |
19.23% | 50.85% | 7.08% |
| 66 |  income distribution in Malaysia |
19.14% | 46.21% | 14.45% |
| 67 |  income distribution in Jordan |
19.11% | 50.57% | 13.58% |
| 68 |  Uruguay's wealth gap |
19.01% | 48.42% | 13.61% |
| 69 |  Cuba's income inequality |
18.91% | 51.14% | 10.23% |
| 70 |  Zambia's wealth gap |
18.86% | 58.81% | 5.56% |
| 71 |  Gambia's income inequality |
18.57% | 55.26% | 10.21% |
| 72 |  Congo's wealth gap |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 73 |  Cameroon's wealth gap |
18.49% | 54.31% | 11.51% |
| 74 |  Philippines |
18.29% | 48.41% | 13.09% |
| 75 |  Bhutan's wealth gap |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 76 |  Papua New Guinea's income inequality |
18.06% | 50.25% | 10.91% |
| 77 |  Israel's income inequality |
17.93% | 49.54% | 13.47% |
| 78 |  Niger's wealth gap |
17.41% | 47.52% | 14.91% |
| 79 |  Gabon's wealth gap |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 80 |  Sri Lanka's income inequality |
16.60% | 43.74% | 16.46% |
| 81 |  Egypt's income inequality |
16.53% | 47.14% | 17.04% |
| 82 |  Benin's income inequality |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 83 |  income distribution in Afghanistan |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 84 |  Indonesia |
16.03% | 44.30% | 14.73% |
| 85 |  Hong Kong's wealth gap |
16.02% | 44.60% | 17.24% |
| 86 |  Mauritania's wealth gap |
15.94% | 50.38% | 11.76% |
| 87 |  Zimbabwe's income inequality |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 88 |  income distribution in Algeria |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 89 |  income distribution in Pakistan |
15.51% | 43.63% | 16.27% |
| 90 |  Libya's income inequality |
15.51% | 46.62% | 15.05% |
| 91 |  Djibouti |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 92 |  income distribution in Uganda |
15.20% | 50.75% | 11.66% |
| 93 |  income distribution in Argentina |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 94 |  income distribution in Mongolia |
14.84% | 42.51% | 13.90% |
| 95 |  income distribution in Chad |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 96 |  Bangladesh |
14.30% | 40.54% | 18.14% |
| 97 |  South Sudan's income inequality |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 98 |  income distribution in Togo |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 99 |  Nepal's wealth gap |
13.86% | 39.93% | 18.82% |
| 100 |  Mauritius's income inequality |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 101 |  Morocco |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 102 |  Luxembourg's wealth gap |
13.30% | 35.32% | 21.41% |
| 103 |  Sierra Leone's income inequality |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 104 |  income distribution in Liberia |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 105 |  income distribution in Japan |
12.64% | 39.26% | 18.79% |
| 106 |  income distribution in Ghana |
12.49% | 44.69% | 15.18% |
| 107 |  Mexico's wealth gap |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 108 |  Equatorial Guinea's wealth gap |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 109 |  income distribution in North Korea |
11.88% | 38.19% | 18.32% |
| 110 |  Spain |
11.85% | 36.72% | 19.28% |
| 111 |  Cyprus's wealth gap |
11.62% | 37.25% | 18.16% |
| 112 |  Tanzania |
11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% |
| 113 |  income distribution in India |
11.40% | 36.30% | 19.65% |
| 114 |  Sudan |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 115 |  income distribution in Germany |
11.29% | 31.59% | 22.39% |
| 116 |  Burundi's income inequality |
11.09% | 42.83% | 16.19% |
| 117 |  Taiwan's income inequality |
10.65% | 35.93% | 17.42% |
| 118 |  Singapore |
10.64% | 36.78% | 20.52% |
| 119 |  Switzerland's income inequality |
10.48% | 30.85% | 23.65% |
| 120 | Sweden |
10.31% | 28.82% | 25.96% |
| 121 |  South Africa |
10.14% | 47.18% | 13.50% |
| 122 |  Nigeria's income inequality |
10.12% | 44.93% | 12.90% |
| 123 |  income distribution in Fiji |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 124 |  Samoa |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 125 |  Solomon Islands's wealth gap |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 126 |  Tuvalu |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 127 |  Tonga |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 128 |  income distribution in Palau |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 129 |  income distribution in Vanuatu |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 130 |  income distribution in Kiribati |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 131 |  Nauru |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 132 |  Marshall Islands's income inequality |
10.08% | 36.12% | 20.86% |
| 133 |  Serbia |
9.85% | 31.61% | 20.24% |
| 134 |  Guinea |
9.73% | 46.54% | 10.93% |
| 135 |  income distribution in Liechtenstein |
9.33% | 32.45% | 20.79% |
| 136 |  income distribution in San Marino |
9.33% | 32.45% | 20.79% |
| 137 |  Andorra's income inequality |
9.33% | 32.45% | 20.79% |
| 138 |  Monaco's income inequality |
9.33% | 32.45% | 20.79% |
| 139 |  income distribution in Australia |
9.22% | 29.48% | 17.83% |
| 140 |  Austria's income inequality |
9.19% | 31.48% | 23.78% |
| 141 |  income distribution in Sao Tome and Principe |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 142 |  income distribution in Greece |
9.08% | 32.92% | 17.90% |
| 143 |  Malta's income inequality |
8.95% | 30.90% | 21.87% |
| 144 |  Belgium's income inequality |
8.91% | 33.37% | 20.68% |
| 145 |  Canada's wealth gap |
8.87% | 30.71% | 20.93% |
| 146 |  income distribution in Ireland |
8.79% | 30.64% | 22.85% |
| 147 |  Kosovo's wealth gap |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 148 |  France's wealth gap |
8.44% | 30.78% | 22.25% |
| 149 |  income distribution in Portugal |
8.36% | 32.81% | 20.49% |
| 150 |  United Kingdom's income inequality |
8.30% | 30.95% | 20.85% |
| 151 |  Macao's income inequality |
8.21% | 30.85% | 21.46% |
| 152 |  China's income inequality |
8.17% | 30.71% | 21.50% |
| 153 |  New Zealand |
8.17% | 31.69% | 16.11% |
| 154 |  Denmark's income inequality |
8.05% | 26.97% | 24.95% |
| 155 |  Montenegro's wealth gap |
8.02% | 30.95% | 19.41% |
| 156 |  North Macedonia's income inequality |
7.75% | 29.55% | 20.97% |
| 157 |  income distribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
7.75% | 30.05% | 20.67% |
| 158 |  income distribution in Iceland |
7.68% | 29.92% | 22.28% |
| 159 |  Albania's income inequality |
6.79% | 30.58% | 19.49% |
| 160 |  income distribution in Finland |
6.72% | 27.48% | 23.68% |
| 161 |  income distribution in Netherlands |
6.15% | 27.64% | 24.60% |
| 162 |  income distribution in Italy |
6.15% | 26.74% | 24.19% |
| 163 | Romania's wealth gap |
5.65% | 24.94% | 27.09% |
| 164 | Azerbaijan's wealth gap |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 165 | income distribution in Uzbekistan |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 166 | Armenia |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 167 | Belarus's wealth gap |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 168 | income distribution in Ukraine |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 169 | Tajikistan's wealth gap |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 170 | Kazakhstan's wealth gap |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 171 | Georgia |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 172 | Kyrgyzstan's wealth gap |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 173 | Turkmenistan's income inequality |
5.30% | 24.64% | 27.58% |
| 174 | income distribution in Norway |
5.04% | 22.83% | 28.23% |
| 175 | Moldova's wealth gap |
4.98% | 24.78% | 25.90% |
| 176 |  Estonia's wealth gap |
4.68% | 23.72% | 24.54% |
| 177 | Slovakia |
4.57% | 23.38% | 27.31% |
| 178 |  Lithuania |
4.49% | 24.92% | 24.78% |
| 179 | income distribution in Slovenia |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 180 | Poland's wealth gap |
4.23% | 21.80% | 28.02% |
| 181 |  Croatia's wealth gap |
3.99% | 26.25% | 22.21% |
| 182 | income distribution in Hungary |
3.86% | 19.04% | 34.26% |
| 183 | Latvia's wealth gap |
3.70% | 22.37% | 26.35% |
| 184 | Bulgaria |
2.05% | 17.52% | 28.41% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.