In 2008, 184 countries reported income inequality data. The highest top 1% income concentration was in Yemen at 32.88%. The global average top 1% income share was 16.96%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 2008
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 2008, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  income distribution in Yemen |
32.88% | 61.82% | 9.59% |
| 2 |  Chile's income inequality |
31.83% | 63.74% | 7.18% |
| 3 |  income distribution in Central African Republic |
31.00% | 64.91% | 7.63% |
| 4 |  Brazil |
29.27% | 58.44% | 10.18% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Peru |
28.64% | 58.20% | 8.58% |
| 6 |  income distribution in Colombia |
27.27% | 61.68% | 7.24% |
| 7 |  Botswana's income inequality |
27.19% | 64.96% | 7.03% |
| 8 |  income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 9 |  Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 10 |  Namibia's income inequality |
26.39% | 69.61% | 5.98% |
| 11 |  Mexico |
25.19% | 64.99% | 5.28% |
| 12 |  income distribution in Rwanda |
25.03% | 60.54% | 9.91% |
| 13 |  Iraq's wealth gap |
24.58% | 55.12% | 12.35% |
| 14 |  income distribution in Seychelles |
24.26% | 54.41% | 11.78% |
| 15 |  Jamaica's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 16 |  income distribution in Honduras |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 17 |  Venezuela's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Guyana |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 19 |  Nicaragua's income inequality |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 20 |  income distribution in Haiti |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 2008
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 Sweden |
11.43% | 31.93% | 23.74% |
| 2 |  income distribution in Norway |
14.05% | 34.29% | 23.71% |
| 3 |  income distribution in Iceland |
7.59% | 28.95% | 23.68% |
| 4 |  Denmark's income inequality |
10.58% | 30.21% | 23.65% |
| 5 |  Netherlands's wealth gap |
6.77% | 28.55% | 23.58% |
| 6 |  Slovakia's wealth gap |
8.74% | 29.98% | 23.31% |
| 7 |  New Zealand |
16.29% | 34.82% | 23.19% |
| 8 |  Switzerland's income inequality |
9.96% | 31.08% | 23.14% |
| 9 |  income distribution in Hungary |
11.34% | 34.22% | 23.13% |
| 10 |  Austria |
9.59% | 32.53% | 22.52% |
| 11 |  Slovenia |
8.07% | 30.41% | 22.47% |
| 12 |  income distribution in Malta |
8.32% | 31.02% | 21.84% |
| 13 |  income distribution in Ukraine |
9.99% | 33.46% | 21.75% |
| 14 |  income distribution in Italy |
7.88% | 30.72% | 21.68% |
| 15 |  Finland's wealth gap |
11.26% | 34.06% | 21.38% |
| 16 |  Belgium's income inequality |
8.50% | 31.72% | 21.00% |
| 17 |  Spain |
11.63% | 34.80% | 20.36% |
| 18 |  Belarus's wealth gap |
11.76% | 35.41% | 20.17% |
| 19 |  Ireland |
10.29% | 32.23% | 19.91% |
| 20 |  Greece |
8.92% | 33.15% | 19.86% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 2008
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 16.96%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 14.31%
- Highest top 1% share: Yemen (32.88%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Netherlands (6.77%)
Complete Country Rankings for 2008
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yemen's income inequality |
32.88% | 61.82% | 9.59% |
| 2 | Chile |
31.83% | 63.74% | 7.18% |
| 3 | Central African Republic |
31.00% | 64.91% | 7.63% |
| 4 | income distribution in Brazil |
29.27% | 58.44% | 10.18% |
| 5 | Peru's income inequality |
28.64% | 58.20% | 8.58% |
| 6 | Colombia's wealth gap |
27.27% | 61.68% | 7.24% |
| 7 | Botswana's wealth gap |
27.19% | 64.96% | 7.03% |
| 8 | income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 9 | Myanmar's wealth gap |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 10 | Namibia's income inequality |
26.39% | 69.61% | 5.98% |
| 11 | Mexico |
25.19% | 64.99% | 5.28% |
| 12 | Rwanda's wealth gap |
25.03% | 60.54% | 9.91% |
| 13 | Iraq |
24.58% | 55.12% | 12.35% |
| 14 | Seychelles |
24.26% | 54.41% | 11.78% |
| 15 | Jamaica's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 16 | Honduras's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 17 | Venezuela's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 18 | Guyana's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 19 | Nicaragua |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 20 | income distribution in Haiti |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 21 |  Bahamas's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 22 |  Guatemala's income inequality |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 23 |  Bolivia's income inequality |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 24 |  Suriname |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 25 |  Belize |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 26 |  Trinidad and Tobago |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 27 |  Panama's wealth gap |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 28 |  Paraguay's income inequality |
23.95% | 55.30% | 9.16% |
| 29 |  income distribution in Mozambique |
23.48% | 55.66% | 11.23% |
| 30 |  Qatar's income inequality |
23.26% | 55.78% | 9.54% |
| 31 |  Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 32 |  Comoros's wealth gap |
23.14% | 60.28% | 9.19% |
| 33 |  Thailand |
23.10% | 55.34% | 11.34% |
| 34 |  Dominican Republic |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 35 |  income distribution in Uruguay |
22.62% | 49.68% | 13.40% |
| 36 |  income distribution in Lebanon |
22.04% | 55.70% | 10.33% |
| 37 |  Jordan |
21.47% | 52.73% | 13.14% |
| 38 |  Dominica's wealth gap |
21.42% | 53.78% | 8.53% |
| 39 |  Saint Lucia's income inequality |
21.42% | 53.78% | 8.53% |
| 40 |  Antigua and Barbuda's income inequality |
21.42% | 53.78% | 8.53% |
| 41 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's income inequality |
21.42% | 53.78% | 8.53% |
| 42 |  Barbados's income inequality |
21.42% | 53.78% | 8.53% |
| 43 |  Grenada's wealth gap |
21.42% | 53.78% | 8.53% |
| 44 |  income distribution in Saint Kitts and Nevis |
21.42% | 53.78% | 8.53% |
| 45 |  income distribution in Maldives |
21.31% | 48.18% | 13.64% |
| 46 |  Gambia's wealth gap |
21.15% | 53.86% | 11.48% |
| 47 |  income distribution in Palestine |
21.11% | 56.19% | 10.28% |
| 48 |  Malawi's income inequality |
21.02% | 54.17% | 11.80% |
| 49 |  Hong Kong |
21.01% | 49.61% | 12.81% |
| 50 |  Kuwait |
20.91% | 54.58% | 11.18% |
| 51 |  India's income inequality |
20.88% | 50.46% | 15.21% |
| 52 |  Zambia |
20.28% | 59.64% | 8.31% |
| 53 |  Costa Rica's wealth gap |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 54 |  income distribution in Egypt |
20.08% | 50.44% | 14.79% |
| 55 |  Israel's income inequality |
20.00% | 52.34% | 11.69% |
| 56 |  Oman's wealth gap |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 57 |  South Africa |
19.76% | 60.06% | 8.74% |
| 58 |  Tunisia's income inequality |
19.71% | 55.37% | 11.76% |
| 59 |  Kenya's wealth gap |
19.59% | 53.20% | 11.52% |
| 60 |  Congo's wealth gap |
19.55% | 55.23% | 10.15% |
| 61 |  Sri Lanka |
19.40% | 47.44% | 14.30% |
| 62 |  Georgia's income inequality |
19.40% | 46.53% | 13.79% |
| 63 |  Turkmenistan |
19.13% | 48.59% | 12.41% |
| 64 |  El Salvador |
18.97% | 50.55% | 8.36% |
| 65 |  Madagascar's wealth gap |
18.65% | 51.69% | 12.82% |
| 66 |  Cuba |
18.52% | 46.99% | 12.12% |
| 67 |  Uganda |
18.38% | 54.21% | 11.83% |
| 68 |  United Arab Emirates's wealth gap |
18.25% | 57.26% | 9.08% |
| 69 |  Romania's wealth gap |
18.18% | 45.08% | 15.08% |
| 70 |  income distribution in Indonesia |
18.12% | 46.54% | 13.42% |
| 71 |  income distribution in Turkey |
18.11% | 50.19% | 14.80% |
| 72 |  income distribution in Malaysia |
18.09% | 45.53% | 14.19% |
| 73 |  Iran's income inequality |
17.83% | 49.54% | 14.27% |
| 74 |  Somalia |
17.81% | 50.48% | 13.37% |
| 75 |  Bahrain's income inequality |
17.80% | 52.25% | 12.34% |
| 76 |  Philippines's wealth gap |
17.72% | 48.61% | 12.44% |
| 77 |  Luxembourg's wealth gap |
17.37% | 40.71% | 18.48% |
| 78 |  Ecuador's wealth gap |
17.27% | 49.90% | 10.13% |
| 79 |  income distribution in Burkina Faso |
17.13% | 50.23% | 13.13% |
| 80 |  Lesotho's income inequality |
16.90% | 52.93% | 9.97% |
| 81 |  Uzbekistan |
16.58% | 45.47% | 14.67% |
| 82 |  Papua New Guinea's income inequality |
16.51% | 46.63% | 12.74% |
| 83 |  Djibouti's wealth gap |
16.47% | 50.17% | 12.56% |
| 84 |  income distribution in Pakistan |
16.42% | 43.29% | 16.81% |
| 85 |  Guinea-Bissau's income inequality |
16.38% | 56.35% | 11.01% |
| 86 |  Bangladesh's wealth gap |
16.31% | 44.07% | 15.95% |
| 87 | New Zealand's wealth gap |
16.29% | 34.82% | 23.19% |
| 88 |  income distribution in Taiwan |
16.24% | 44.87% | 10.66% |
| 89 |  Afghanistan's wealth gap |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 90 |  income distribution in Tanzania |
16.19% | 49.32% | 13.53% |
| 91 |  income distribution in Mongolia |
16.15% | 43.95% | 14.33% |
| 92 |  Zimbabwe's wealth gap |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 93 |  Algeria's income inequality |
15.81% | 45.24% | 16.50% |
| 94 |  income distribution in Libya |
15.76% | 46.80% | 15.14% |
| 95 |  Tajikistan |
15.76% | 41.06% | 16.64% |
| 96 |  income distribution in Bhutan |
15.76% | 45.17% | 14.17% |
| 97 |  Benin's income inequality |
15.72% | 50.75% | 12.64% |
| 98 |  income distribution in Cameroon |
15.69% | 50.57% | 11.75% |
| 99 |  Argentina's income inequality |
15.68% | 41.40% | 12.84% |
| 100 |  Solomon Islands's income inequality |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 101 |  income distribution in Tonga |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 102 |  Nauru's income inequality |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 103 |  Tuvalu's income inequality |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 104 |  Samoa's income inequality |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 105 |  Palau |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 106 |  income distribution in Kiribati |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 107 |  Marshall Islands's income inequality |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 108 |  Fiji |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 109 |  income distribution in Vanuatu |
15.64% | 45.54% | 17.39% |
| 110 |  Gabon |
15.61% | 48.92% | 12.99% |
| 111 |  Singapore's income inequality |
15.35% | 46.74% | 16.58% |
| 112 |  North Korea's income inequality |
15.35% | 43.64% | 14.87% |
| 113 |  China's wealth gap |
15.33% | 42.81% | 13.97% |
| 114 |  Angola's wealth gap |
15.30% | 49.32% | 12.23% |
| 115 |  income distribution in Macao |
15.29% | 42.69% | 14.21% |
| 116 |  Niger |
15.29% | 47.99% | 14.95% |
| 117 |  Chad's wealth gap |
15.25% | 48.72% | 12.68% |
| 118 |  Ghana |
15.22% | 49.22% | 12.47% |
| 119 |  Kazakhstan's wealth gap |
15.10% | 41.19% | 16.51% |
| 120 |  income distribution in Eritrea |
14.99% | 44.13% | 16.83% |
| 121 |  Ethiopia's wealth gap |
14.99% | 44.13% | 16.83% |
| 122 |  income distribution in Poland |
14.93% | 37.82% | 19.55% |
| 123 |  Mauritius's wealth gap |
14.84% | 47.07% | 14.81% |
| 124 |  Nepal's wealth gap |
14.70% | 42.49% | 16.09% |
| 125 |  Togo's wealth gap |
14.64% | 50.33% | 11.75% |
| 126 |  Azerbaijan's wealth gap |
14.49% | 38.87% | 19.74% |
| 127 |  Kyrgyzstan's income inequality |
14.30% | 40.69% | 17.22% |
| 128 |  income distribution in South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 129 |  United Kingdom's wealth gap |
14.07% | 37.07% | 18.61% |
| 130 | Norway's wealth gap |
14.05% | 34.29% | 23.71% |
| 131 |  Serbia's income inequality |
13.88% | 39.43% | 14.65% |
| 132 |  Canada's wealth gap |
13.47% | 37.58% | 17.03% |
| 133 |  Germany |
13.45% | 36.76% | 19.09% |
| 134 |  income distribution in Morocco |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 135 |  income distribution in Burundi |
13.41% | 46.08% | 15.23% |
| 136 |  Senegal |
13.34% | 47.24% | 13.57% |
| 137 |  Estonia's income inequality |
13.07% | 37.55% | 17.64% |
| 138 |  Guinea |
13.04% | 45.80% | 14.23% |
| 139 |  Japan's income inequality |
12.84% | 43.94% | 16.71% |
| 140 |  Armenia |
12.59% | 36.96% | 19.33% |
| 141 |  Liberia |
12.44% | 44.30% | 15.54% |
| 142 |  Lithuania's wealth gap |
12.29% | 37.77% | 18.04% |
| 143 |  France's wealth gap |
12.09% | 35.20% | 19.79% |
| 144 |  Equatorial Guinea's wealth gap |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 145 | Belarus's wealth gap |
11.76% | 35.41% | 20.17% |
| 146 | Spain's wealth gap |
11.63% | 34.80% | 20.36% |
| 147 |  Sierra Leone's wealth gap |
11.52% | 45.22% | 14.94% |
| 148 | income distribution in Sweden |
11.43% | 31.93% | 23.74% |
| 149 | Hungary's wealth gap |
11.34% | 34.22% | 23.13% |
| 150 |  Sudan's wealth gap |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 151 | income distribution in Finland |
11.26% | 34.06% | 21.38% |
| 152 |  income distribution in Moldova |
11.21% | 36.99% | 16.05% |
| 153 |  Nigeria's income inequality |
11.20% | 43.47% | 14.70% |
| 154 |  Latvia's income inequality |
10.91% | 37.95% | 15.80% |
| 155 |  Monaco |
10.78% | 34.24% | 19.16% |
| 156 |  Liechtenstein |
10.78% | 34.24% | 19.16% |
| 157 |  Andorra |
10.78% | 34.24% | 19.16% |
| 158 |  San Marino's wealth gap |
10.78% | 34.24% | 19.16% |
| 159 |  Mali |
10.74% | 43.15% | 15.56% |
| 160 | Denmark's wealth gap |
10.58% | 30.21% | 23.65% |
| 161 |  income distribution in Cyprus |
10.57% | 34.67% | 19.71% |
| 162 |  Australia's wealth gap |
10.51% | 34.31% | 17.28% |
| 163 | income distribution in Ireland |
10.29% | 32.23% | 19.91% |
| 164 |  Mauritania's wealth gap |
10.27% | 41.51% | 15.25% |
| 165 |  Croatia's income inequality |
10.00% | 34.02% | 18.82% |
| 166 | income distribution in Ukraine |
9.99% | 33.46% | 21.75% |
| 167 | Switzerland |
9.96% | 31.08% | 23.14% |
| 168 |  income distribution in Portugal |
9.73% | 38.06% | 18.45% |
| 169 |  Montenegro |
9.64% | 34.86% | 17.31% |
| 170 | Austria's income inequality |
9.59% | 32.53% | 22.52% |
| 171 |  Kosovo |
9.49% | 34.78% | 17.02% |
| 172 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's wealth gap |
9.33% | 34.55% | 17.77% |
| 173 |  Bulgaria's income inequality |
9.03% | 33.53% | 19.25% |
| 174 |  Sao Tome and Principe's income inequality |
8.99% | 39.44% | 17.37% |
| 175 | income distribution in Greece |
8.92% | 33.15% | 19.86% |
| 176 | Slovakia's income inequality |
8.74% | 29.98% | 23.31% |
| 177 |  Albania's wealth gap |
8.57% | 33.03% | 18.68% |
| 178 | Belgium's wealth gap |
8.50% | 31.72% | 21.00% |
| 179 | Malta's wealth gap |
8.32% | 31.02% | 21.84% |
| 180 | income distribution in Slovenia |
8.07% | 30.41% | 22.47% |
| 181 |  North Macedonia's income inequality |
8.00% | 33.30% | 17.08% |
| 182 | income distribution in Italy |
7.88% | 30.72% | 21.68% |
| 183 | Iceland's wealth gap |
7.59% | 28.95% | 23.68% |
| 184 | income distribution in Netherlands |
6.77% | 28.55% | 23.58% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.