In 1993, 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 16.50%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1993
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1993, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  income distribution in Malawi |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 |  Botswana's wealth gap |
37.70% | 69.11% | 6.27% |
| 3 |  Maldives |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 4 |  Namibia's income inequality |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 |  Mauritania's wealth gap |
31.64% | 61.84% | 9.64% |
| 6 |  Chile's wealth gap |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 7 |  income distribution in Eritrea |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 |  Ethiopia's wealth gap |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 9 |  Comoros's wealth gap |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 10 |  income distribution in Colombia |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 11 |  Madagascar's income inequality |
27.47% | 56.50% | 11.37% |
| 12 |  Brazil's income inequality |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 13 |  Kenya |
26.91% | 58.72% | 9.82% |
| 14 |  Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 15 |  Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 16 |  Peru's income inequality |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 17 |  income distribution in Somalia |
24.97% | 56.01% | 11.40% |
| 18 |  Iraq's wealth gap |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 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 1993
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 |  income distribution in Norway |
8.12% | 26.31% | 27.38% |
| 2 |  income distribution in Hungary |
7.01% | 26.25% | 27.21% |
| 3 |  Slovakia's income inequality |
5.69% | 24.58% | 26.57% |
| 4 |  income distribution in Sweden |
8.61% | 27.70% | 26.06% |
| 5 |  Finland's wealth gap |
4.84% | 25.19% | 25.29% |
| 6 |  Belarus's wealth gap |
8.66% | 29.92% | 25.16% |
| 7 |  income distribution in Poland |
8.21% | 26.54% | 25.15% |
| 8 |  Tajikistan's income inequality |
8.98% | 28.66% | 25.05% |
| 9 |  income distribution in Denmark |
8.43% | 27.42% | 24.92% |
| 10 |  Netherlands's wealth gap |
5.75% | 27.09% | 24.47% |
| 11 |  Romania |
8.42% | 30.07% | 23.94% |
| 12 |  Switzerland |
9.73% | 29.78% | 23.79% |
| 13 |  Kyrgyzstan's wealth gap |
10.50% | 31.22% | 23.77% |
| 14 |  Slovenia's wealth gap |
5.68% | 26.65% | 23.72% |
| 15 |  income distribution in Austria |
9.17% | 31.39% | 23.16% |
| 16 |  Italy |
6.55% | 27.82% | 22.93% |
| 17 |  income distribution in Germany |
9.21% | 30.43% | 22.73% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Turkmenistan |
11.56% | 32.97% | 22.64% |
| 19 |  Iceland's wealth gap |
7.71% | 30.07% | 22.44% |
| 20 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
11.22% | 33.13% | 22.14% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1993
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 16.50%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 14.82%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (64.09%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Finland (4.84%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1993
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi |
64.09% | 80.29% | 5.20% |
| 2 | income distribution in Botswana |
37.70% | 69.11% | 6.27% |
| 3 | income distribution in Maldives |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 4 | income distribution in Namibia |
33.15% | 75.80% | 3.27% |
| 5 | Mauritania |
31.64% | 61.84% | 9.64% |
| 6 | Chile |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 7 | income distribution in Eritrea |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 8 | Ethiopia's wealth gap |
29.69% | 58.32% | 11.36% |
| 9 | Comoros's wealth gap |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 10 | Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 11 | income distribution in Madagascar |
27.47% | 56.50% | 11.37% |
| 12 | Brazil's income inequality |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 13 | Kenya |
26.91% | 58.72% | 9.82% |
| 14 | Cambodia's income inequality |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 15 | Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 16 | Peru's wealth gap |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 17 | Somalia's income inequality |
24.97% | 56.01% | 11.40% |
| 18 | Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 19 | income distribution in Rwanda |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 20 | Mozambique's income inequality |
24.09% | 61.97% | 8.37% |
| 21 |  Thailand's income inequality |
23.73% | 57.32% | 9.48% |
| 22 |  Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 23 |  income distribution in Qatar |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 24 |  Ecuador's income inequality |
22.86% | 54.43% | 8.90% |
| 25 |  Dominican Republic's income inequality |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 26 |  Turkey |
22.72% | 56.05% | 11.96% |
| 27 |  Yemen's income inequality |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 28 |  Central African Republic's wealth gap |
22.59% | 64.32% | 5.81% |
| 29 |  income distribution in Saint Lucia |
22.54% | 55.60% | 7.97% |
| 30 |  Grenada's income inequality |
22.54% | 55.60% | 7.97% |
| 31 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis's wealth gap |
22.54% | 55.60% | 7.97% |
| 32 |  income distribution in Dominica |
22.54% | 55.60% | 7.97% |
| 33 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's income inequality |
22.54% | 55.60% | 7.97% |
| 34 |  Antigua and Barbuda's wealth gap |
22.54% | 55.60% | 7.97% |
| 35 |  income distribution in Barbados |
22.54% | 55.60% | 7.97% |
| 36 |  Lesotho |
22.52% | 63.95% | 5.30% |
| 37 |  Paraguay's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 38 |  Trinidad and Tobago |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  Panama's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  Suriname's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  Belize's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  Guatemala's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  Guyana's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  Haiti's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  Honduras's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  Bolivia's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 47 |  income distribution in Venezuela |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 48 |  Jamaica's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 49 |  Nicaragua's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 50 |  Bahamas |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 51 |  income distribution in Bahrain |
22.21% | 56.52% | 10.89% |
| 52 |  Angola |
22.00% | 58.03% | 9.15% |
| 53 |  Tunisia's wealth gap |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 54 |  Jordan's wealth gap |
21.84% | 52.97% | 12.42% |
| 55 |  Seychelles's wealth gap |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 56 |  Mali's income inequality |
21.64% | 58.55% | 9.30% |
| 57 |  Burkina Faso's wealth gap |
21.27% | 57.95% | 10.09% |
| 58 |  Kuwait |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 59 |  Lebanon's wealth gap |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 60 |  Iran's wealth gap |
20.25% | 53.76% | 12.78% |
| 61 |  income distribution in Palestine |
20.18% | 53.50% | 11.75% |
| 62 |  Costa Rica's wealth gap |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 63 |  United Arab Emirates's wealth gap |
20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% |
| 64 |  Oman |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 65 |  Philippines's income inequality |
19.75% | 50.43% | 12.12% |
| 66 |  Senegal's income inequality |
19.65% | 53.24% | 11.66% |
| 67 |  Guinea-Bissau's wealth gap |
19.65% | 52.52% | 11.74% |
| 68 |  Malaysia |
19.37% | 46.72% | 13.86% |
| 69 |  income distribution in El Salvador |
19.23% | 50.85% | 7.08% |
| 70 |  income distribution in Uruguay |
19.01% | 48.42% | 13.61% |
| 71 |  Uganda's wealth gap |
18.94% | 51.26% | 13.00% |
| 72 |  Cuba's wealth gap |
18.91% | 51.14% | 10.23% |
| 73 |  Israel |
18.85% | 50.24% | 13.27% |
| 74 |  Congo's wealth gap |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 75 |  Gambia |
18.57% | 55.26% | 10.21% |
| 76 |  Cameroon's income inequality |
18.49% | 54.31% | 11.51% |
| 77 |  Bhutan's income inequality |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 78 |  Papua New Guinea |
18.06% | 50.25% | 10.91% |
| 79 |  income distribution in Indonesia |
17.66% | 46.26% | 13.90% |
| 80 |  Gabon's income inequality |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 81 |  Niger's income inequality |
17.10% | 48.77% | 13.86% |
| 82 |  Nepal's income inequality |
17.04% | 44.59% | 16.15% |
| 83 |  Egypt |
16.88% | 46.93% | 17.37% |
| 84 |  Zambia's wealth gap |
16.72% | 56.01% | 8.58% |
| 85 |  income distribution in Sri Lanka |
16.68% | 45.06% | 15.62% |
| 86 |  income distribution in Benin |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 87 |  Afghanistan |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 88 |  Zimbabwe's income inequality |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 89 |  Pakistan's wealth gap |
15.89% | 42.62% | 17.11% |
| 90 |  Guinea's income inequality |
15.73% | 51.46% | 10.83% |
| 91 |  Algeria's wealth gap |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 92 |  Hong Kong's wealth gap |
15.47% | 43.68% | 16.58% |
| 93 |  income distribution in Djibouti |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 94 |  Libya's income inequality |
15.14% | 46.53% | 15.04% |
| 95 |  income distribution in Argentina |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 96 |  Mongolia |
14.84% | 42.51% | 13.90% |
| 97 |  Bangladesh |
14.81% | 41.96% | 17.45% |
| 98 |  Chad |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 99 |  income distribution in Estonia |
14.47% | 40.60% | 15.19% |
| 100 |  South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 101 |  income distribution in Ukraine |
14.09% | 38.97% | 17.58% |
| 102 |  Togo |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 103 |  Mauritius |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 104 |  income distribution in Luxembourg |
13.43% | 35.40% | 21.39% |
| 105 |  Morocco's wealth gap |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 106 |  Ghana |
13.34% | 46.66% | 13.89% |
| 107 |  income distribution in Armenia |
13.19% | 35.31% | 21.01% |
| 108 |  Georgia |
13.00% | 34.50% | 21.48% |
| 109 |  Sierra Leone's wealth gap |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 110 |  income distribution in India |
12.79% | 37.67% | 19.33% |
| 111 |  Liberia's wealth gap |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 112 |  income distribution in Azerbaijan |
12.50% | 35.27% | 20.30% |
| 113 |  income distribution in North Korea |
12.46% | 39.79% | 16.84% |
| 114 |  Mexico |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 115 |  Burundi |
12.16% | 44.10% | 15.63% |
| 116 |  Equatorial Guinea |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 117 |  income distribution in New Zealand |
11.90% | 37.78% | 13.69% |
| 118 |  Tanzania's income inequality |
11.80% | 43.64% | 15.52% |
| 119 | income distribution in Turkmenistan |
11.56% | 32.97% | 22.64% |
| 120 |  income distribution in Nigeria |
11.47% | 46.75% | 11.72% |
| 121 |  Sudan's wealth gap |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 122 |  Palau |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 123 |  Tonga's wealth gap |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 124 |  Samoa's income inequality |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 125 |  income distribution in Fiji |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 126 |  Kiribati's wealth gap |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 127 | Uzbekistan |
11.22% | 33.13% | 22.14% |
| 128 |  Vanuatu |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 129 |  Solomon Islands's wealth gap |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 130 |  Tuvalu's wealth gap |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 131 |  income distribution in Nauru |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 132 |  Marshall Islands |
11.22% | 37.25% | 20.75% |
| 133 |  Cyprus's wealth gap |
11.19% | 36.43% | 18.59% |
| 134 |  Spain |
10.99% | 34.68% | 19.90% |
| 135 |  Taiwan |
10.78% | 36.67% | 15.83% |
| 136 |  Singapore's income inequality |
10.71% | 35.40% | 21.13% |
| 137 |  Kazakhstan's wealth gap |
10.64% | 35.29% | 19.56% |
| 138 |  Serbia |
10.59% | 31.99% | 20.54% |
| 139 |  South Africa's wealth gap |
10.58% | 46.35% | 13.89% |
| 140 | income distribution in Kyrgyzstan |
10.50% | 31.22% | 23.77% |
| 141 |  Bulgaria's income inequality |
10.47% | 33.63% | 20.62% |
| 142 |  income distribution in Japan |
10.04% | 35.99% | 20.39% |
| 143 | Switzerland's income inequality |
9.73% | 29.78% | 23.79% |
| 144 |  United Kingdom |
9.72% | 34.23% | 18.93% |
| 145 |  Andorra |
9.62% | 33.43% | 19.92% |
| 146 |  Monaco's wealth gap |
9.62% | 33.43% | 19.92% |
| 147 |  income distribution in Liechtenstein |
9.62% | 33.43% | 19.92% |
| 148 |  income distribution in San Marino |
9.62% | 33.43% | 19.92% |
| 149 |  Portugal |
9.59% | 36.06% | 18.61% |
| 150 |  Canada's wealth gap |
9.57% | 32.51% | 18.33% |
| 151 |  income distribution in Ireland |
9.51% | 32.35% | 21.54% |
| 152 |  income distribution in Greece |
9.41% | 33.85% | 17.88% |
| 153 |  China |
9.33% | 34.03% | 18.17% |
| 154 |  Macao's income inequality |
9.29% | 33.91% | 18.49% |
| 155 |  Lithuania's income inequality |
9.25% | 35.36% | 19.22% |
| 156 | Germany's wealth gap |
9.21% | 30.43% | 22.73% |
| 157 | Austria's wealth gap |
9.17% | 31.39% | 23.16% |
| 158 |  income distribution in Sao Tome and Principe |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 159 |  income distribution in Moldova |
9.03% | 34.08% | 17.81% |
| 160 | Tajikistan |
8.98% | 28.66% | 25.05% |
| 161 |  Malta |
8.84% | 30.78% | 21.90% |
| 162 |  France's income inequality |
8.66% | 30.65% | 21.50% |
| 163 | income distribution in Belarus |
8.66% | 29.92% | 25.16% |
| 164 | Sweden |
8.61% | 27.70% | 26.06% |
| 165 |  Kosovo's income inequality |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 166 | Denmark's wealth gap |
8.43% | 27.42% | 24.92% |
| 167 | Romania's wealth gap |
8.42% | 30.07% | 23.94% |
| 168 | income distribution in Poland |
8.21% | 26.54% | 25.15% |
| 169 | Norway |
8.12% | 26.31% | 27.38% |
| 170 | Iceland |
7.71% | 30.07% | 22.44% |
| 171 |  Montenegro |
7.63% | 29.56% | 21.45% |
| 172 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's wealth gap |
7.62% | 29.52% | 21.62% |
| 173 |  Belgium's wealth gap |
7.56% | 32.10% | 20.88% |
| 174 |  Albania's wealth gap |
7.51% | 31.67% | 19.17% |
| 175 |  North Macedonia's income inequality |
7.48% | 29.68% | 19.96% |
| 176 |  Australia |
7.23% | 29.88% | 18.78% |
| 177 | Hungary |
7.01% | 26.25% | 27.21% |
| 178 |  Latvia's income inequality |
6.93% | 30.75% | 20.75% |
| 179 | Italy |
6.55% | 27.82% | 22.93% |
| 180 |  Croatia's wealth gap |
6.25% | 31.54% | 19.92% |
| 181 | Netherlands's income inequality |
5.75% | 27.09% | 24.47% |
| 182 | income distribution in Slovakia |
5.69% | 24.58% | 26.57% |
| 183 | income distribution in Slovenia |
5.68% | 26.65% | 23.72% |
| 184 | income distribution in Finland |
4.84% | 25.19% | 25.29% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.