In 1998, 184 countries reported income inequality data. The highest top 1% income concentration was in Malawi at 57.71%. The global average top 1% income share was 16.81%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 1998
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 1998, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Malawi's income inequality |
57.71% | 76.19% | 6.34% |
| 2 |  Maldives's wealth gap |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 3 |  Botswana |
31.00% | 67.88% | 6.00% |
| 4 |  income distribution in Chile |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 5 |  Namibia's income inequality |
30.01% | 73.68% | 4.40% |
| 6 |  Comoros's income inequality |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 7 |  Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 8 |  Brazil's wealth gap |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 9 |  Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 10 |  Burkina Faso's income inequality |
26.72% | 62.03% | 9.72% |
| 11 |  income distribution in Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 12 |  Georgia's wealth gap |
25.58% | 50.37% | 12.62% |
| 13 |  Central African Republic's income inequality |
25.40% | 64.51% | 6.41% |
| 14 |  Peru's income inequality |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 15 |  Mozambique's wealth gap |
24.57% | 60.87% | 9.14% |
| 16 |  Iraq's income inequality |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 17 |  income distribution in Rwanda |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 18 |  Philippines's wealth gap |
23.82% | 53.34% | 11.18% |
| 19 |  Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 20 |  income distribution in Qatar |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 1998
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 income inequality |
8.71% | 28.18% | 27.49% |
| 2 |  income distribution in Norway |
8.98% | 28.37% | 25.94% |
| 3 |  Slovakia's wealth gap |
6.98% | 26.94% | 24.82% |
| 4 |  income distribution in Netherlands |
5.94% | 27.57% | 24.60% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Sweden |
11.70% | 31.80% | 24.32% |
| 6 |  income distribution in Denmark |
10.47% | 29.62% | 24.32% |
| 7 |  Slovenia's wealth gap |
7.21% | 28.97% | 23.11% |
| 8 |  income distribution in Ukraine |
9.24% | 32.46% | 23.01% |
| 9 |  Switzerland |
11.68% | 32.42% | 23.00% |
| 10 |  Finland's income inequality |
11.61% | 32.74% | 22.92% |
| 11 |  Austria's income inequality |
9.67% | 32.21% | 22.80% |
| 12 |  income distribution in Poland |
10.88% | 32.11% | 22.70% |
| 13 |  income distribution in Iceland |
7.94% | 30.41% | 21.93% |
| 14 |  Ireland's wealth gap |
12.15% | 35.65% | 21.83% |
| 15 |  Italy's income inequality |
7.93% | 30.14% | 21.54% |
| 16 |  Germany's wealth gap |
10.97% | 32.17% | 21.51% |
| 17 |  Malta's income inequality |
9.88% | 31.82% | 21.50% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Montenegro |
8.84% | 31.38% | 21.20% |
| 19 |  Samoa's wealth gap |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 20 |  Vanuatu's wealth gap |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 1998
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 16.81%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 14.38%
- Highest top 1% share: Malawi (57.71%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Netherlands (5.94%)
Complete Country Rankings for 1998
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi |
57.71% | 76.19% | 6.34% |
| 2 | income distribution in Maldives |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 3 | income distribution in Botswana |
31.00% | 67.88% | 6.00% |
| 4 | Chile |
30.23% | 62.73% | 7.52% |
| 5 | income distribution in Namibia |
30.01% | 73.68% | 4.40% |
| 6 | income distribution in Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 7 | Colombia's income inequality |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 8 | Brazil's wealth gap |
27.24% | 58.61% | 9.12% |
| 9 | income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 10 | Burkina Faso |
26.72% | 62.03% | 9.72% |
| 11 | Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 12 | income distribution in Georgia |
25.58% | 50.37% | 12.62% |
| 13 | Central African Republic's income inequality |
25.40% | 64.51% | 6.41% |
| 14 | income distribution in Peru |
25.18% | 55.70% | 8.47% |
| 15 | income distribution in Mozambique |
24.57% | 60.87% | 9.14% |
| 16 | Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 17 | Rwanda |
24.11% | 59.84% | 10.13% |
| 18 | Philippines's wealth gap |
23.82% | 53.34% | 11.18% |
| 19 | Saudi Arabia |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 20 | Qatar's income inequality |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 21 |  Ecuador |
22.86% | 54.43% | 8.90% |
| 22 |  income distribution in Dominican Republic |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 23 |  income distribution in Bahrain |
22.78% | 57.42% | 10.46% |
| 24 |  Yemen's wealth gap |
22.70% | 56.68% | 9.99% |
| 25 |  Saint Lucia's income inequality |
22.49% | 55.12% | 8.14% |
| 26 |  Grenada |
22.49% | 55.12% | 8.14% |
| 27 |  income distribution in Dominica |
22.49% | 55.12% | 8.14% |
| 28 |  income distribution in Saint Kitts and Nevis |
22.49% | 55.12% | 8.14% |
| 29 |  income distribution in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
22.49% | 55.12% | 8.14% |
| 30 |  income distribution in Barbados |
22.49% | 55.12% | 8.14% |
| 31 |  income distribution in Antigua and Barbuda |
22.49% | 55.12% | 8.14% |
| 32 |  Trinidad and Tobago's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 33 |  Honduras's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 34 |  Paraguay |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 35 |  Guyana's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 36 |  Belize's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 37 |  Bolivia's income inequality |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 38 |  Panama's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 39 |  income distribution in Nicaragua |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 40 |  Guatemala's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 41 |  Bahamas's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 42 |  income distribution in Jamaica |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 43 |  Suriname's wealth gap |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 44 |  Venezuela |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 45 |  income distribution in Haiti |
22.27% | 55.41% | 8.39% |
| 46 |  income distribution in Turkey |
22.15% | 55.58% | 12.30% |
| 47 |  income distribution in Angola |
22.00% | 58.03% | 9.15% |
| 48 |  Tunisia's wealth gap |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 49 |  Seychelles |
21.80% | 52.63% | 12.28% |
| 50 |  Kuwait's wealth gap |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 51 |  Lesotho's wealth gap |
20.46% | 59.78% | 7.05% |
| 52 |  Lebanon's wealth gap |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 53 |  Costa Rica |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 54 |  Zambia's wealth gap |
20.14% | 56.00% | 9.77% |
| 55 |  United Arab Emirates's wealth gap |
20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% |
| 56 |  income distribution in Oman |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 57 |  Malaysia |
19.64% | 46.89% | 13.82% |
| 58 |  Palestine |
19.49% | 53.52% | 11.59% |
| 59 |  Thailand's wealth gap |
19.47% | 52.86% | 10.76% |
| 60 |  Somalia's income inequality |
19.45% | 51.40% | 13.08% |
| 61 |  Kenya |
19.36% | 54.62% | 11.22% |
| 62 |  Niger's income inequality |
19.34% | 51.92% | 12.34% |
| 63 |  Egypt's income inequality |
19.32% | 50.64% | 15.41% |
| 64 |  El Salvador's income inequality |
19.23% | 50.85% | 7.08% |
| 65 |  income distribution in Iran |
19.22% | 53.18% | 12.66% |
| 66 |  Israel's wealth gap |
19.03% | 50.82% | 12.78% |
| 67 |  Uruguay |
19.01% | 48.42% | 13.61% |
| 68 |  Cuba's income inequality |
18.91% | 51.14% | 10.23% |
| 69 |  income distribution in Cameroon |
18.75% | 53.30% | 11.86% |
| 70 |  income distribution in Guinea |
18.66% | 52.94% | 11.41% |
| 71 |  Congo's wealth gap |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 72 |  Gambia |
18.57% | 55.26% | 10.21% |
| 73 |  Pakistan |
18.56% | 45.93% | 16.05% |
| 74 |  Turkmenistan's wealth gap |
18.40% | 47.99% | 13.09% |
| 75 |  income distribution in Sri Lanka |
18.29% | 47.78% | 14.09% |
| 76 |  Senegal |
18.13% | 50.78% | 13.00% |
| 77 |  Bhutan's income inequality |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 78 |  income distribution in Uganda |
18.03% | 51.77% | 12.68% |
| 79 |  Armenia |
17.77% | 44.85% | 15.12% |
| 80 |  Papua New Guinea |
17.73% | 49.67% | 11.24% |
| 81 |  Eritrea's income inequality |
17.62% | 46.44% | 16.10% |
| 82 |  Ethiopia |
17.62% | 46.44% | 16.10% |
| 83 |  Burundi's wealth gap |
17.48% | 50.42% | 12.82% |
| 84 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
17.44% | 48.30% | 11.80% |
| 85 |  Mali's wealth gap |
17.17% | 51.82% | 11.58% |
| 86 |  Gabon |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 87 |  Luxembourg's income inequality |
17.10% | 40.13% | 18.87% |
| 88 |  Nepal |
16.90% | 44.82% | 15.74% |
| 89 |  income distribution in Jordan |
16.64% | 47.44% | 14.78% |
| 90 |  Guinea-Bissau's wealth gap |
16.63% | 48.30% | 13.71% |
| 91 |  Benin's wealth gap |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 92 |  Bangladesh's wealth gap |
16.33% | 44.55% | 16.08% |
| 93 |  Azerbaijan |
16.22% | 43.59% | 15.00% |
| 94 |  income distribution in Afghanistan |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 95 |  Zimbabwe's income inequality |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 96 |  Algeria's wealth gap |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 97 |  Kyrgyzstan's wealth gap |
15.58% | 43.35% | 16.05% |
| 98 |  income distribution in Estonia |
15.48% | 42.28% | 15.89% |
| 99 |  Djibouti |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 100 |  Hong Kong's wealth gap |
15.19% | 42.95% | 16.15% |
| 101 |  Libya's wealth gap |
15.15% | 46.58% | 15.05% |
| 102 |  income distribution in Mongolia |
15.12% | 41.30% | 15.08% |
| 103 |  Argentina |
14.86% | 50.57% | 8.17% |
| 104 |  income distribution in India |
14.73% | 40.25% | 18.70% |
| 105 |  income distribution in Chad |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 106 |  South Sudan's wealth gap |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 107 |  income distribution in Cyprus |
14.12% | 39.97% | 17.53% |
| 108 |  South Africa's income inequality |
14.08% | 51.53% | 11.28% |
| 109 |  Kazakhstan |
14.08% | 42.60% | 14.66% |
| 110 |  Togo's wealth gap |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 111 |  Indonesia's wealth gap |
13.99% | 39.46% | 17.80% |
| 112 |  New Zealand |
13.81% | 39.48% | 13.23% |
| 113 |  Mauritius |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 114 |  income distribution in Romania |
13.47% | 38.58% | 19.30% |
| 115 |  Morocco |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 116 |  Madagascar's income inequality |
13.32% | 46.03% | 13.81% |
| 117 |  United Kingdom's wealth gap |
12.98% | 36.62% | 18.59% |
| 118 |  Belarus |
12.95% | 37.81% | 18.56% |
| 119 |  Sierra Leone's income inequality |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 120 |  income distribution in North Korea |
12.89% | 40.16% | 17.20% |
| 121 |  Taiwan |
12.80% | 39.83% | 13.91% |
| 122 |  income distribution in Liberia |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 123 |  Nigeria's wealth gap |
12.53% | 46.49% | 12.60% |
| 124 |  income distribution in Mexico |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 125 |  Tanzania |
12.44% | 44.91% | 14.90% |
| 126 | Samoa's wealth gap |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 127 | Vanuatu's wealth gap |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 128 |  income distribution in Marshall Islands |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 129 |  income distribution in Solomon Islands |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 130 |  Fiji's wealth gap |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 131 |  Tonga's income inequality |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 132 |  Tuvalu |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 133 |  income distribution in Palau |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 134 |  Nauru's income inequality |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 135 |  Kiribati's wealth gap |
12.40% | 38.59% | 20.73% |
| 136 |  Ghana |
12.18% | 45.69% | 13.41% |
| 137 |  Greece |
12.18% | 38.71% | 15.66% |
| 138 | income distribution in Ireland |
12.15% | 35.65% | 21.83% |
| 139 |  Equatorial Guinea |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 140 |  Serbia's income inequality |
11.80% | 33.75% | 19.65% |
| 141 | Sweden |
11.70% | 31.80% | 24.32% |
| 142 |  Mauritania |
11.69% | 45.36% | 14.13% |
| 143 | Switzerland's wealth gap |
11.68% | 32.42% | 23.00% |
| 144 | Finland's wealth gap |
11.61% | 32.74% | 22.92% |
| 145 |  Tajikistan's wealth gap |
11.55% | 36.54% | 19.46% |
| 146 |  Sudan |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 147 |  Canada's income inequality |
11.27% | 34.86% | 17.21% |
| 148 |  Singapore |
11.26% | 37.04% | 19.67% |
| 149 |  France |
11.18% | 33.29% | 20.54% |
| 150 |  Bulgaria |
11.17% | 36.13% | 19.53% |
| 151 |  Spain |
10.99% | 34.39% | 19.90% |
| 152 | income distribution in Germany |
10.97% | 32.17% | 21.51% |
| 153 |  Latvia's income inequality |
10.97% | 36.56% | 17.58% |
| 154 | Poland's wealth gap |
10.88% | 32.11% | 22.70% |
| 155 |  Liechtenstein's wealth gap |
10.81% | 34.95% | 19.26% |
| 156 |  Monaco's income inequality |
10.81% | 34.95% | 19.26% |
| 157 |  Andorra |
10.81% | 34.95% | 19.26% |
| 158 |  San Marino's wealth gap |
10.81% | 34.95% | 19.26% |
| 159 | income distribution in Denmark |
10.47% | 29.62% | 24.32% |
| 160 |  Portugal's income inequality |
10.28% | 36.88% | 18.75% |
| 161 |  Japan's wealth gap |
10.23% | 38.40% | 18.88% |
| 162 |  China's income inequality |
9.98% | 34.39% | 18.82% |
| 163 |  income distribution in Macao |
9.94% | 34.25% | 19.15% |
| 164 | Malta's wealth gap |
9.88% | 31.82% | 21.50% |
| 165 | income distribution in Austria |
9.67% | 32.21% | 22.80% |
| 166 |  Moldova's wealth gap |
9.25% | 35.79% | 15.81% |
| 167 | income distribution in Ukraine |
9.24% | 32.46% | 23.01% |
| 168 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's income inequality |
9.15% | 32.25% | 19.65% |
| 169 |  income distribution in Sao Tome and Principe |
9.13% | 39.69% | 16.84% |
| 170 | Norway |
8.98% | 28.37% | 25.94% |
| 171 | Montenegro's wealth gap |
8.84% | 31.38% | 21.20% |
| 172 | Hungary's wealth gap |
8.71% | 28.18% | 27.49% |
| 173 |  Kosovo |
8.55% | 33.75% | 17.44% |
| 174 |  Albania's income inequality |
8.50% | 33.12% | 18.67% |
| 175 |  North Macedonia's wealth gap |
8.30% | 32.05% | 17.26% |
| 176 |  Belgium |
8.13% | 32.60% | 20.15% |
| 177 |  income distribution in Australia |
8.13% | 31.07% | 18.20% |
| 178 | Iceland |
7.94% | 30.41% | 21.93% |
| 179 | Italy's wealth gap |
7.93% | 30.14% | 21.54% |
| 180 |  income distribution in Lithuania |
7.73% | 32.44% | 20.14% |
| 181 |  income distribution in Croatia |
7.26% | 33.08% | 18.77% |
| 182 | Slovenia's income inequality |
7.21% | 28.97% | 23.11% |
| 183 | Slovakia's income inequality |
6.98% | 26.94% | 24.82% |
| 184 | Netherlands's income inequality |
5.94% | 27.57% | 24.60% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.