In 2002, 184 countries reported income inequality data. The highest top 1% income concentration was in Maldives at 35.61%. The global average top 1% income share was 16.79%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 2002
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 2002, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Maldives's income inequality |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 2 |  Malawi's wealth gap |
32.06% | 59.67% | 10.92% |
| 3 |  income distribution in Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 4 |  Colombia |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Chile |
28.21% | 61.02% | 8.03% |
| 6 |  Central African Republic |
27.64% | 64.67% | 6.90% |
| 7 |  income distribution in Namibia |
27.50% | 71.98% | 5.30% |
| 8 |  Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 9 |  income distribution in Brazil |
26.64% | 59.34% | 9.06% |
| 10 |  Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 11 |  Yemen |
26.44% | 59.11% | 9.56% |
| 12 |  Peru's wealth gap |
25.81% | 62.20% | 6.96% |
| 13 |  Botswana's wealth gap |
25.64% | 66.90% | 5.79% |
| 14 |  Mozambique |
25.55% | 58.66% | 10.69% |
| 15 |  Rwanda |
25.28% | 61.05% | 9.68% |
| 16 |  income distribution in Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 17 |  Bahrain's income inequality |
23.59% | 58.69% | 9.86% |
| 18 |  Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 19 |  Ecuador |
23.06% | 53.56% | 9.12% |
| 20 |  Qatar's income inequality |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 2002
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 |  Sweden's wealth gap |
9.37% | 30.16% | 25.50% |
| 2 |  income distribution in Norway |
11.59% | 30.68% | 25.19% |
| 3 |  Hungary's wealth gap |
10.91% | 32.39% | 24.55% |
| 4 |  Denmark's income inequality |
9.77% | 29.08% | 24.37% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Netherlands |
6.83% | 28.71% | 23.96% |
| 6 |  Slovakia |
8.85% | 29.66% | 23.57% |
| 7 |  Switzerland's wealth gap |
9.47% | 30.49% | 23.28% |
| 8 |  Slovenia |
6.99% | 29.23% | 23.09% |
| 9 |  income distribution in Finland |
12.53% | 33.25% | 22.98% |
| 10 |  Austria |
9.44% | 32.16% | 22.92% |
| 11 |  income distribution in Malta |
9.13% | 31.05% | 21.84% |
| 12 |  Italy |
8.27% | 30.86% | 21.81% |
| 13 |  Ireland |
12.07% | 35.54% | 21.30% |
| 14 |  Iceland's income inequality |
11.14% | 33.00% | 21.21% |
| 15 |  Ukraine's wealth gap |
9.98% | 34.17% | 21.13% |
| 16 |  Poland's wealth gap |
10.46% | 34.30% | 21.03% |
| 17 |  income distribution in Germany |
10.10% | 32.41% | 20.96% |
| 18 |  Belgium |
7.63% | 31.57% | 20.49% |
| 19 |  income distribution in Spain |
10.89% | 33.96% | 20.46% |
| 20 |  Montenegro |
9.82% | 32.97% | 20.41% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 2002
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 16.79%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 14.28%
- Highest top 1% share: Maldives (35.61%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Netherlands (6.83%)
Complete Country Rankings for 2002
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maldives's wealth gap |
35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% |
| 2 | Malawi's wealth gap |
32.06% | 59.67% | 10.92% |
| 3 | income distribution in Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 4 | Colombia |
28.83% | 63.97% | 6.35% |
| 5 | Chile |
28.21% | 61.02% | 8.03% |
| 6 | Central African Republic's wealth gap |
27.64% | 64.67% | 6.90% |
| 7 | income distribution in Namibia |
27.50% | 71.98% | 5.30% |
| 8 | Cambodia's wealth gap |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 9 | income distribution in Brazil |
26.64% | 59.34% | 9.06% |
| 10 | Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 11 | Yemen |
26.44% | 59.11% | 9.56% |
| 12 | income distribution in Peru |
25.81% | 62.20% | 6.96% |
| 13 | Botswana's wealth gap |
25.64% | 66.90% | 5.79% |
| 14 | Mozambique |
25.55% | 58.66% | 10.69% |
| 15 | Rwanda |
25.28% | 61.05% | 9.68% |
| 16 | Iraq's income inequality |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 17 | income distribution in Bahrain |
23.59% | 58.69% | 9.86% |
| 18 | income distribution in Saudi Arabia |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 19 | Ecuador's income inequality |
23.06% | 53.56% | 9.12% |
| 20 | income distribution in Qatar |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 21 |  Dominican Republic |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 22 |  income distribution in Uganda |
22.66% | 56.39% | 11.29% |
| 23 |  Turkey's wealth gap |
22.51% | 55.82% | 12.42% |
| 24 |  Guatemala's income inequality |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 25 |  Suriname's income inequality |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 26 |  Trinidad and Tobago's wealth gap |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 27 |  Paraguay's wealth gap |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 28 |  income distribution in Venezuela |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 29 |  income distribution in Jamaica |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 30 |  Nicaragua |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 31 |  income distribution in Panama |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 32 |  Belize |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 33 |  Honduras's wealth gap |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 34 |  Haiti's wealth gap |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 35 |  Bolivia's income inequality |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 36 |  Guyana's wealth gap |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 37 |  Bahamas |
22.45% | 56.19% | 8.10% |
| 38 |  Thailand |
22.18% | 54.86% | 10.16% |
| 39 |  income distribution in Dominica |
22.16% | 54.60% | 8.30% |
| 40 |  income distribution in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
22.16% | 54.60% | 8.30% |
| 41 |  Saint Lucia's wealth gap |
22.16% | 54.60% | 8.30% |
| 42 |  income distribution in Saint Kitts and Nevis |
22.16% | 54.60% | 8.30% |
| 43 |  Antigua and Barbuda |
22.16% | 54.60% | 8.30% |
| 44 |  income distribution in Barbados |
22.16% | 54.60% | 8.30% |
| 45 |  Grenada's wealth gap |
22.16% | 54.60% | 8.30% |
| 46 |  income distribution in Tunisia |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 47 |  income distribution in Niger |
21.89% | 53.83% | 11.86% |
| 48 |  Seychelles's income inequality |
21.29% | 52.40% | 12.21% |
| 49 |  Kuwait's income inequality |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 50 |  income distribution in Sri Lanka |
20.79% | 50.58% | 12.64% |
| 51 |  Kenya's wealth gap |
20.57% | 54.90% | 11.02% |
| 52 |  income distribution in El Salvador |
20.54% | 50.09% | 6.92% |
| 53 |  Lebanon's wealth gap |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 54 |  Angola's wealth gap |
20.33% | 55.86% | 9.92% |
| 55 |  Gambia's income inequality |
20.21% | 54.88% | 10.40% |
| 56 |  income distribution in Costa Rica |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 57 |  Palestine's wealth gap |
20.14% | 54.13% | 11.42% |
| 58 |  Oman |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 59 |  Cuba |
19.76% | 52.15% | 9.69% |
| 60 |  Uruguay |
19.63% | 49.65% | 12.94% |
| 61 |  Zambia |
19.61% | 52.00% | 12.48% |
| 62 |  Egypt's income inequality |
19.47% | 51.03% | 14.83% |
| 63 |  Israel's wealth gap |
19.45% | 51.46% | 12.36% |
| 64 |  income distribution in United Arab Emirates |
19.43% | 56.26% | 9.75% |
| 65 |  income distribution in Philippines |
19.34% | 50.12% | 11.97% |
| 66 |  income distribution in Jordan |
19.24% | 50.73% | 13.63% |
| 67 |  Burkina Faso |
18.86% | 53.48% | 11.49% |
| 68 |  Turkmenistan's income inequality |
18.85% | 48.36% | 12.67% |
| 69 |  Malaysia's wealth gap |
18.84% | 45.08% | 14.57% |
| 70 |  Iran |
18.77% | 52.71% | 12.15% |
| 71 |  Congo's wealth gap |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 72 |  Cameroon |
18.57% | 51.54% | 12.30% |
| 73 |  Guinea's income inequality |
18.57% | 51.95% | 12.04% |
| 74 |  Lesotho |
18.52% | 55.20% | 9.10% |
| 75 |  Somalia's income inequality |
18.35% | 50.42% | 13.53% |
| 76 |  Bhutan's wealth gap |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 77 |  income distribution in Georgia |
18.03% | 45.02% | 14.60% |
| 78 |  Senegal's wealth gap |
17.70% | 50.56% | 12.92% |
| 79 |  Hong Kong's income inequality |
17.56% | 45.46% | 14.74% |
| 80 |  Pakistan |
17.31% | 44.29% | 16.32% |
| 81 |  Papua New Guinea |
17.30% | 48.57% | 11.78% |
| 82 |  Gabon |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 83 |  India's income inequality |
17.10% | 43.10% | 17.73% |
| 84 |  income distribution in South Africa |
16.92% | 55.89% | 10.16% |
| 85 |  Uzbekistan's income inequality |
16.65% | 44.80% | 15.45% |
| 86 |  Argentina's income inequality |
16.61% | 53.24% | 7.00% |
| 87 |  Madagascar's wealth gap |
16.53% | 52.99% | 11.11% |
| 88 |  income distribution in Taiwan |
16.48% | 43.85% | 11.70% |
| 89 |  Bangladesh |
16.42% | 44.87% | 15.60% |
| 90 |  income distribution in Estonia |
16.37% | 42.93% | 14.91% |
| 91 |  income distribution in Benin |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 92 |  Afghanistan |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 93 |  Kazakhstan's income inequality |
16.18% | 44.37% | 13.94% |
| 94 |  Armenia's income inequality |
16.01% | 42.91% | 16.84% |
| 95 |  Nepal's wealth gap |
15.94% | 43.81% | 15.87% |
| 96 |  Zimbabwe's income inequality |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 97 |  income distribution in Mongolia |
15.87% | 43.28% | 13.75% |
| 98 |  income distribution in Algeria |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 99 |  Libya's wealth gap |
15.56% | 46.98% | 14.94% |
| 100 |  Djibouti's wealth gap |
15.41% | 47.90% | 13.47% |
| 101 |  Burundi |
15.19% | 47.80% | 14.26% |
| 102 |  Singapore |
15.17% | 46.10% | 16.56% |
| 103 |  income distribution in Eritrea |
14.50% | 42.81% | 17.59% |
| 104 |  Ethiopia's wealth gap |
14.50% | 42.81% | 17.59% |
| 105 |  Chad's income inequality |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 106 |  income distribution in Luxembourg |
14.34% | 37.55% | 20.07% |
| 107 |  income distribution in Indonesia |
14.29% | 39.74% | 17.35% |
| 108 |  North Korea |
14.29% | 43.36% | 14.97% |
| 109 |  Ghana's income inequality |
14.27% | 48.06% | 12.86% |
| 110 |  South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 111 |  Guinea-Bissau's wealth gap |
14.20% | 44.90% | 15.29% |
| 112 |  Togo |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 113 |  Mauritania's wealth gap |
13.94% | 48.10% | 13.60% |
| 114 |  Azerbaijan's income inequality |
13.92% | 38.05% | 20.20% |
| 115 |  Tajikistan's wealth gap |
13.89% | 41.31% | 16.17% |
| 116 |  income distribution in Mauritius |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 117 |  Tanzania's wealth gap |
13.67% | 46.59% | 14.27% |
| 118 |  income distribution in Mali |
13.61% | 46.78% | 13.43% |
| 119 |  income distribution in Palau |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 120 |  Marshall Islands |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 121 |  Vanuatu |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 122 |  Samoa's wealth gap |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 123 |  Solomon Islands's wealth gap |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 124 |  Fiji's income inequality |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 125 |  Tuvalu |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 126 |  Kiribati's wealth gap |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 127 |  Tonga's wealth gap |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 128 |  Nauru's wealth gap |
13.58% | 40.80% | 19.83% |
| 129 |  Morocco's wealth gap |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 130 |  income distribution in Serbia |
13.42% | 36.25% | 18.41% |
| 131 |  income distribution in Nigeria |
13.37% | 46.29% | 13.30% |
| 132 |  Sierra Leone's wealth gap |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 133 |  Romania |
12.87% | 38.01% | 18.60% |
| 134 |  income distribution in Canada |
12.79% | 36.60% | 17.24% |
| 135 |  Liberia's income inequality |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 136 |  income distribution in China |
12.69% | 39.80% | 15.30% |
| 137 |  Macao's wealth gap |
12.65% | 39.68% | 15.57% |
| 138 | Finland |
12.53% | 33.25% | 22.98% |
| 139 |  New Zealand's wealth gap |
12.48% | 37.10% | 19.43% |
| 140 |  Cyprus |
12.46% | 37.66% | 18.37% |
| 141 |  Mexico's income inequality |
12.45% | 54.45% | 6.29% |
| 142 |  Bulgaria |
12.20% | 37.59% | 18.70% |
| 143 | Ireland's income inequality |
12.07% | 35.54% | 21.30% |
| 144 |  Belarus's wealth gap |
12.05% | 36.13% | 20.01% |
| 145 |  Equatorial Guinea's income inequality |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 146 |  United Kingdom's wealth gap |
12.00% | 36.59% | 18.46% |
| 147 |  Japan's income inequality |
11.69% | 42.48% | 17.03% |
| 148 | Norway's wealth gap |
11.59% | 30.68% | 25.19% |
| 149 |  Sudan's wealth gap |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 150 | Iceland's wealth gap |
11.14% | 33.00% | 21.21% |
| 151 |  France's income inequality |
11.08% | 33.61% | 20.37% |
| 152 | Hungary's wealth gap |
10.91% | 32.39% | 24.55% |
| 153 | income distribution in Spain |
10.89% | 33.96% | 20.46% |
| 154 |  Greece |
10.89% | 37.60% | 16.83% |
| 155 |  income distribution in Latvia |
10.87% | 37.50% | 17.03% |
| 156 |  Kyrgyzstan |
10.77% | 38.11% | 18.06% |
| 157 |  San Marino |
10.50% | 34.60% | 19.19% |
| 158 |  Liechtenstein's income inequality |
10.50% | 34.60% | 19.19% |
| 159 |  Andorra's income inequality |
10.50% | 34.60% | 19.19% |
| 160 |  Monaco's wealth gap |
10.50% | 34.60% | 19.19% |
| 161 | income distribution in Poland |
10.46% | 34.30% | 21.03% |
| 162 |  Portugal |
10.31% | 38.07% | 17.81% |
| 163 | income distribution in Germany |
10.10% | 32.41% | 20.96% |
| 164 | Ukraine's wealth gap |
9.98% | 34.17% | 21.13% |
| 165 | Montenegro |
9.82% | 32.97% | 20.41% |
| 166 | Denmark |
9.77% | 29.08% | 24.37% |
| 167 | Switzerland |
9.47% | 30.49% | 23.28% |
| 168 | income distribution in Austria |
9.44% | 32.16% | 22.92% |
| 169 |  income distribution in Australia |
9.39% | 32.64% | 17.68% |
| 170 | Sweden |
9.37% | 30.16% | 25.50% |
| 171 |  income distribution in Moldova |
9.19% | 35.45% | 16.19% |
| 172 | Malta |
9.13% | 31.05% | 21.84% |
| 173 |  Sao Tome and Principe |
9.10% | 39.63% | 16.97% |
| 174 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's wealth gap |
8.98% | 33.28% | 18.52% |
| 175 | Slovakia's wealth gap |
8.85% | 29.66% | 23.57% |
| 176 |  income distribution in Albania |
8.61% | 33.59% | 18.08% |
| 177 |  Kosovo's wealth gap |
8.51% | 33.70% | 17.48% |
| 178 | Italy's income inequality |
8.27% | 30.86% | 21.81% |
| 179 |  income distribution in Lithuania |
7.90% | 32.88% | 19.60% |
| 180 |  Croatia's wealth gap |
7.71% | 31.56% | 19.86% |
| 181 |  North Macedonia's income inequality |
7.68% | 30.32% | 17.53% |
| 182 | Belgium's wealth gap |
7.63% | 31.57% | 20.49% |
| 183 | Slovenia |
6.99% | 29.23% | 23.09% |
| 184 | Netherlands's income inequality |
6.83% | 28.71% | 23.96% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.