In 1990, 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 15.99%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1990
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1990, 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 income inequality |
34.81% | 66.26% | 7.30% |
| 4 |  Namibia |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 |  Botswana's income inequality |
32.70% | 66.07% | 6.89% |
| 6 |  income distribution in Chile |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 7 |  Eritrea's income inequality |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 |  Ethiopia's income inequality |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 9 |  Comoros's income inequality |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 10 |  Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 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 Madagascar |
26.04% | 56.23% | 11.18% |
| 15 |  Somalia's income inequality |
25.58% | 56.84% | 10.95% |
| 16 |  income distribution in Turkey |
25.50% | 58.17% | 11.25% |
| 17 |  Senegal's wealth gap |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 18 |  Peru's wealth gap |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 19 |  Iraq's wealth gap |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 20 |  Rwanda |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 1990
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 |
5.37% | 22.71% | 30.62% |
| 2 |  Norway's wealth gap |
5.94% | 23.46% | 28.39% |
| 3 |  Turkmenistan's income inequality |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 4 |  income distribution in Ukraine |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Azerbaijan |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 6 |  Belarus's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 7 |  Georgia's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 8 |  income distribution in Tajikistan |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 9 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 10 |  Kazakhstan's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 11 |  income distribution in Kyrgyzstan |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 12 |  Armenia's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 13 |  Slovakia's wealth gap |
5.03% | 23.62% | 27.34% |
| 14 |  Slovenia's income inequality |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 15 |  Sweden's wealth gap |
8.15% | 26.55% | 26.73% |
| 16 |  Romania's wealth gap |
6.06% | 25.95% | 26.23% |
| 17 |  Poland |
5.53% | 24.32% | 26.08% |
| 18 |  Bulgaria's wealth gap |
5.68% | 25.56% | 25.98% |
| 19 |  Latvia's income inequality |
4.20% | 23.88% | 25.00% |
| 20 |  Denmark |
8.39% | 27.42% | 24.77% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1990
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 15.99%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 15.44%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (64.09%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Latvia (4.20%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1990
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi's wealth gap |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 | Maldives's income inequality |
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 | Botswana's wealth gap |
32.70% | 66.07% | 6.89% |
| 6 | Chile |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 7 | Eritrea |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 | Ethiopia's wealth gap |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 9 | Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 10 | Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 11 | Brazil's wealth gap |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 12 | Cambodia's income inequality |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 13 | Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 14 | Madagascar |
26.04% | 56.23% | 11.18% |
| 15 | Somalia |
25.58% | 56.84% | 10.95% |
| 16 | Turkey |
25.50% | 58.17% | 11.25% |
| 17 | Senegal's wealth gap |
25.23% | 60.87% | 8.04% |
| 18 | Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 19 | Iraq's wealth gap |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 20 | Rwanda |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 21 |  Mozambique's income inequality |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
| 22 |  Thailand's wealth gap |
23.47% | 57.06% | 9.56% |
| 23 |  Guinea-Bissau |
23.28% | 59.57% | 7.71% |
| 24 |  income distribution in Saudi Arabia |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 25 |  Qatar's wealth gap |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 26 |  Lesotho's wealth gap |
22.90% | 62.74% | 6.21% |
| 27 |  Ecuador's wealth gap |
22.86% | 54.43% | 8.90% |
| 28 |  Dominican Republic's income inequality |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 29 |  income distribution in Yemen |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 30 |  Saint Lucia |
22.58% | 55.90% | 7.85% |
| 31 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
22.58% | 55.90% | 7.85% |
| 32 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis |
22.58% | 55.90% | 7.85% |
| 33 |  Dominica |
22.58% | 55.90% | 7.85% |
| 34 |  Barbados |
22.58% | 55.90% | 7.85% |
| 35 |  Grenada's income inequality |
22.58% | 55.90% | 7.85% |
| 36 |  Antigua and Barbuda |
22.58% | 55.90% | 7.85% |
| 37 |  Paraguay's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 38 |  Honduras's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  Guyana |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  Guatemala's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  Nicaragua's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  Panama |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  Haiti's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  Jamaica's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  Bolivia's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  Venezuela's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 47 |  Belize |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 48 |  Bahamas's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 49 |  Suriname's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 50 |  Trinidad and Tobago's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 51 |  Bahrain's income inequality |
22.21% | 56.52% | 10.89% |
| 52 |  Mauritania's wealth gap |
22.21% | 54.96% | 10.91% |
| 53 |  Central African Republic's income inequality |
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 |  Seychelles |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 57 |  Mali |
21.64% | 58.55% | 9.30% |
| 58 |  Burkina Faso's wealth gap |
21.27% | 57.95% | 10.09% |
| 59 |  Kuwait's income inequality |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 60 |  Jordan |
20.84% | 52.22% | 12.83% |
| 61 |  Lebanon's wealth gap |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 62 |  Iran |
20.30% | 53.85% | 12.69% |
| 63 |  income distribution in Palestine |
20.18% | 53.50% | 11.75% |
| 64 |  Costa Rica's wealth gap |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 65 |  United Arab Emirates's income inequality |
20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% |
| 66 |  Philippines's income inequality |
20.01% | 50.49% | 12.25% |
| 67 |  Oman's wealth gap |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 68 |  income distribution in El Salvador |
19.23% | 50.85% | 7.08% |
| 69 |  Malaysia |
19.16% | 46.25% | 14.33% |
| 70 |  Uruguay's income inequality |
19.01% | 48.42% | 13.61% |
| 71 |  Cuba |
18.91% | 51.14% | 10.23% |
| 72 |  Zambia's wealth gap |
18.86% | 58.81% | 5.56% |
| 73 |  Congo's income inequality |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 74 |  Gambia's wealth gap |
18.57% | 55.26% | 10.21% |
| 75 |  Cameroon's income inequality |
18.49% | 54.31% | 11.51% |
| 76 |  income distribution in Israel |
18.41% | 49.85% | 13.43% |
| 77 |  Bhutan's wealth gap |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 78 |  Papua New Guinea |
18.06% | 50.25% | 10.91% |
| 79 |  Sri Lanka |
17.67% | 44.62% | 16.35% |
| 80 |  income distribution in Niger |
17.41% | 47.52% | 14.91% |
| 81 |  Gabon's wealth gap |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 82 |  Uganda's income inequality |
16.84% | 51.18% | 12.03% |
| 83 |  income distribution in Egypt |
16.53% | 47.14% | 17.04% |
| 84 |  income distribution in Hong Kong |
16.50% | 45.26% | 16.59% |
| 85 |  Benin's income inequality |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 86 |  Afghanistan's income inequality |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 87 |  Zimbabwe's income inequality |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 88 |  Algeria |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 89 |  income distribution in Djibouti |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 90 |  Nepal's wealth gap |
15.33% | 42.08% | 17.59% |
| 91 |  Libya |
15.11% | 46.48% | 15.04% |
| 92 |  Pakistan's wealth gap |
15.09% | 43.04% | 16.31% |
| 93 |  Indonesia's wealth gap |
15.00% | 44.77% | 14.38% |
| 94 |  Argentina's income inequality |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 95 |  Mongolia's income inequality |
14.84% | 42.51% | 13.90% |
| 96 |  Chad's wealth gap |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 97 |  income distribution in Japan |
14.43% | 40.69% | 18.68% |
| 98 |  income distribution in South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 99 |  Togo's wealth gap |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 100 |  Mauritius |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 101 |  income distribution in Luxembourg |
13.46% | 35.41% | 21.43% |
| 102 |  Morocco |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 103 |  income distribution in Ghana |
13.36% | 46.26% | 14.45% |
| 104 |  Bangladesh's income inequality |
13.13% | 39.19% | 18.62% |
| 105 |  Sierra Leone's income inequality |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 106 |  Liberia's income inequality |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 107 |  Mexico |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 108 |  Equatorial Guinea's income inequality |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 109 |  New Zealand |
11.95% | 36.91% | 14.18% |
| 110 |  North Korea's wealth gap |
11.88% | 38.19% | 18.32% |
| 111 |  Spain |
11.68% | 36.70% | 18.94% |
| 112 |  income distribution in Cyprus |
11.57% | 37.18% | 18.18% |
| 113 |  Tanzania's income inequality |
11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% |
| 114 |  Germany |
11.45% | 32.55% | 21.62% |
| 115 |  Taiwan's income inequality |
11.40% | 37.03% | 16.44% |
| 116 |  income distribution in Sudan |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 117 |  income distribution in Burundi |
11.09% | 42.83% | 16.19% |
| 118 |  Singapore |
10.94% | 37.66% | 20.13% |
| 119 |  India |
10.74% | 34.40% | 20.27% |
| 120 |  income distribution in Nigeria |
10.69% | 45.87% | 12.22% |
| 121 |  income distribution in Samoa |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 122 |  income distribution in Fiji |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 123 |  Palau |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 124 |  Solomon Islands's income inequality |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 125 |  Marshall Islands's income inequality |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 126 |  Kiribati's wealth gap |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 127 |  Vanuatu's income inequality |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 128 |  Tuvalu's wealth gap |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 129 |  income distribution in Tonga |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 130 |  Nauru's wealth gap |
10.42% | 36.34% | 20.76% |
| 131 |  Switzerland's income inequality |
10.15% | 30.29% | 23.76% |
| 132 |  income distribution in South Africa |
10.14% | 47.18% | 13.50% |
| 133 |  Guinea |
9.73% | 46.54% | 10.93% |
| 134 |  income distribution in Estonia |
9.55% | 32.47% | 19.17% |
| 135 |  Serbia's income inequality |
9.50% | 30.76% | 21.06% |
| 136 |  income distribution in Canada |
9.27% | 31.61% | 19.86% |
| 137 |  income distribution in San Marino |
9.23% | 32.53% | 20.87% |
| 138 |  Andorra's income inequality |
9.23% | 32.53% | 20.87% |
| 139 |  Liechtenstein's wealth gap |
9.23% | 32.53% | 20.87% |
| 140 |  Monaco's wealth gap |
9.23% | 32.53% | 20.87% |
| 141 |  Austria's income inequality |
9.21% | 31.42% | 23.40% |
| 142 |  Greece's income inequality |
9.14% | 33.15% | 17.81% |
| 143 |  Sao Tome and Principe's wealth gap |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 144 |  income distribution in United Kingdom |
9.10% | 32.91% | 19.52% |
| 145 |  income distribution in Ireland |
9.07% | 30.98% | 22.56% |
| 146 |  France's income inequality |
8.97% | 31.56% | 21.53% |
| 147 |  income distribution in Portugal |
8.94% | 33.17% | 20.94% |
| 148 |  Malta's income inequality |
8.90% | 30.84% | 21.89% |
| 149 |  Kosovo's wealth gap |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 150 | Denmark |
8.39% | 27.42% | 24.77% |
| 151 |  China |
8.25% | 31.00% | 21.09% |
| 152 |  Belgium's income inequality |
8.24% | 32.86% | 20.70% |
| 153 |  Macao |
8.21% | 30.85% | 21.46% |
| 154 | Sweden's income inequality |
8.15% | 26.55% | 26.73% |
| 155 |  Iceland |
7.68% | 29.92% | 22.27% |
| 156 | Turkmenistan's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 157 | Ukraine's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 158 | Azerbaijan's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 159 | Belarus's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 160 | Georgia |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 161 | Tajikistan's wealth gap |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 162 | Uzbekistan |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 163 | Kazakhstan's income inequality |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 164 | Kyrgyzstan |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 165 | Armenia |
7.45% | 23.95% | 28.37% |
| 166 |  Australia's income inequality |
7.06% | 26.90% | 18.81% |
| 167 |  Albania's wealth gap |
6.79% | 30.58% | 19.50% |
| 168 |  Montenegro's income inequality |
6.64% | 28.09% | 21.97% |
| 169 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's income inequality |
6.40% | 27.36% | 23.01% |
| 170 |  income distribution in North Macedonia |
6.39% | 26.86% | 23.30% |
| 171 |  Moldova |
6.29% | 27.92% | 23.08% |
| 172 |  Lithuania's wealth gap |
6.27% | 29.01% | 22.61% |
| 173 |  income distribution in Italy |
6.25% | 27.14% | 23.49% |
| 174 | Romania |
6.06% | 25.95% | 26.23% |
| 175 |  income distribution in Netherlands |
5.95% | 27.20% | 24.76% |
| 176 | Norway's wealth gap |
5.94% | 23.46% | 28.39% |
| 177 | Bulgaria |
5.68% | 25.56% | 25.98% |
| 178 | Poland |
5.53% | 24.32% | 26.08% |
| 179 | Hungary's wealth gap |
5.37% | 22.71% | 30.62% |
| 180 | Slovakia's income inequality |
5.03% | 23.62% | 27.34% |
| 181 |  Croatia |
4.77% | 29.98% | 20.89% |
| 182 |  Finland's income inequality |
4.49% | 25.21% | 24.77% |
| 183 | Slovenia's wealth gap |
4.26% | 22.38% | 27.25% |
| 184 | Latvia |
4.20% | 23.88% | 25.00% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.