In 2009, 184 countries reported income inequality data. The highest top 1% income concentration was in Yemen at 34.67%. The global average top 1% income share was 16.60%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 2009
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 2009, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yemen's income inequality |
34.67% | 62.12% | 9.84% |
| 2 |  Chile's income inequality |
30.27% | 63.34% | 7.17% |
| 3 |  Central African Republic's income inequality |
29.82% | 63.80% | 7.98% |
| 4 |  Mexico |
28.50% | 63.54% | 5.52% |
| 5 |  Botswana |
27.44% | 64.63% | 7.24% |
| 6 |  Brazil's wealth gap |
27.28% | 57.98% | 10.35% |
| 7 |  Cambodia's wealth gap |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 8 |  Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 9 |  Namibia's wealth gap |
26.30% | 69.22% | 6.07% |
| 10 |  Colombia |
26.11% | 60.58% | 7.76% |
| 11 |  Seychelles |
26.08% | 55.57% | 11.60% |
| 12 |  Peru's wealth gap |
24.87% | 56.55% | 9.32% |
| 13 |  Mozambique's wealth gap |
24.76% | 57.16% | 10.74% |
| 14 |  Iraq |
24.74% | 54.93% | 12.83% |
| 15 |  income distribution in Rwanda |
24.36% | 59.76% | 10.21% |
| 16 |  Qatar's income inequality |
23.57% | 56.08% | 9.58% |
| 17 |  Saudi Arabia |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 18 |  Belize's income inequality |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 19 |  Jamaica's wealth gap |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 20 |  income distribution in Bahamas |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 2009
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 |  Norway |
11.17% | 31.06% | 24.94% |
| 2 |  Iceland's income inequality |
6.56% | 27.57% | 24.38% |
| 3 |  Denmark |
9.69% | 29.14% | 24.06% |
| 4 |  Slovakia |
9.45% | 29.86% | 23.97% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Sweden |
9.94% | 30.49% | 23.78% |
| 6 |  Netherlands's income inequality |
6.57% | 28.65% | 23.53% |
| 7 |  Hungary's income inequality |
11.19% | 33.35% | 23.45% |
| 8 |  income distribution in Ukraine |
8.68% | 31.61% | 23.18% |
| 9 |  Switzerland's wealth gap |
10.61% | 31.75% | 22.91% |
| 10 |  Austria's income inequality |
8.64% | 31.31% | 22.80% |
| 11 |  Slovenia |
7.13% | 29.78% | 22.72% |
| 12 |  New Zealand |
18.74% | 37.73% | 21.98% |
| 13 |  income distribution in Italy |
7.60% | 30.42% | 21.82% |
| 14 |  Finland's wealth gap |
9.01% | 32.28% | 21.66% |
| 15 |  Ireland |
10.03% | 32.51% | 21.50% |
| 16 |  Malta |
8.83% | 32.09% | 21.28% |
| 17 |  Belgium |
7.49% | 30.94% | 21.09% |
| 18 |  Belarus's income inequality |
11.38% | 35.04% | 20.90% |
| 19 |  income distribution in France |
10.36% | 33.30% | 20.32% |
| 20 |  Greece |
8.46% | 32.50% | 20.15% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 2009
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 16.60%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 14.45%
- Highest top 1% share: Yemen (34.67%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Iceland (6.56%)
Complete Country Rankings for 2009
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yemen's income inequality |
34.67% | 62.12% | 9.84% |
| 2 | income distribution in Chile |
30.27% | 63.34% | 7.17% |
| 3 | income distribution in Central African Republic |
29.82% | 63.80% | 7.98% |
| 4 | income distribution in Mexico |
28.50% | 63.54% | 5.52% |
| 5 | Botswana |
27.44% | 64.63% | 7.24% |
| 6 | income distribution in Brazil |
27.28% | 57.98% | 10.35% |
| 7 | Cambodia's wealth gap |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 8 | Myanmar's income inequality |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 9 | Namibia's wealth gap |
26.30% | 69.22% | 6.07% |
| 10 | Colombia |
26.11% | 60.58% | 7.76% |
| 11 | Seychelles |
26.08% | 55.57% | 11.60% |
| 12 | Peru |
24.87% | 56.55% | 9.32% |
| 13 | Mozambique |
24.76% | 57.16% | 10.74% |
| 14 | Iraq's wealth gap |
24.74% | 54.93% | 12.83% |
| 15 | income distribution in Rwanda |
24.36% | 59.76% | 10.21% |
| 16 | Qatar |
23.57% | 56.08% | 9.58% |
| 17 | Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 18 | Belize |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 19 | Jamaica |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 20 | income distribution in Bahamas |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 21 |  Panama's income inequality |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 22 |  income distribution in Honduras |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 23 |  Paraguay |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 24 |  Nicaragua's income inequality |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 25 |  Haiti's wealth gap |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 26 |  Venezuela's income inequality |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 27 |  Trinidad and Tobago's income inequality |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 28 |  Bolivia's wealth gap |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 29 |  Guyana's income inequality |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 30 |  Guatemala's income inequality |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 31 |  income distribution in Suriname |
22.85% | 54.46% | 9.33% |
| 32 |  Dominican Republic's income inequality |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 33 |  Jordan |
22.50% | 53.14% | 13.33% |
| 34 |  income distribution in Thailand |
21.69% | 53.10% | 11.61% |
| 35 |  income distribution in Comoros |
21.64% | 58.61% | 9.56% |
| 36 |  income distribution in Uruguay |
21.58% | 48.07% | 14.00% |
| 37 |  Malawi's wealth gap |
21.49% | 54.87% | 11.45% |
| 38 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis's wealth gap |
21.31% | 53.66% | 8.57% |
| 39 |  income distribution in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
21.31% | 53.66% | 8.57% |
| 40 |  income distribution in Grenada |
21.31% | 53.66% | 8.57% |
| 41 |  Antigua and Barbuda's wealth gap |
21.31% | 53.66% | 8.57% |
| 42 |  Barbados's income inequality |
21.31% | 53.66% | 8.57% |
| 43 |  Dominica's income inequality |
21.31% | 53.66% | 8.57% |
| 44 |  income distribution in Saint Lucia |
21.31% | 53.66% | 8.57% |
| 45 |  income distribution in India |
21.27% | 51.83% | 14.77% |
| 46 |  income distribution in Gambia |
21.26% | 53.68% | 11.68% |
| 47 |  Kuwait's income inequality |
20.70% | 54.47% | 11.30% |
| 48 |  Hong Kong's income inequality |
20.70% | 49.56% | 12.77% |
| 49 |  Lebanon's wealth gap |
20.57% | 54.53% | 10.96% |
| 50 |  Israel's wealth gap |
20.22% | 52.61% | 11.72% |
| 51 |  Indonesia |
20.15% | 47.88% | 12.99% |
| 52 |  Costa Rica's wealth gap |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 53 |  Oman |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 54 |  Congo's wealth gap |
19.87% | 55.46% | 10.07% |
| 55 |  Zambia's wealth gap |
19.62% | 59.08% | 8.54% |
| 56 |  Palestine's income inequality |
19.56% | 54.91% | 10.88% |
| 57 |  Turkmenistan |
19.45% | 48.85% | 12.10% |
| 58 |  Turkey |
19.44% | 51.90% | 14.03% |
| 59 |  Egypt |
19.12% | 49.54% | 15.39% |
| 60 |  Tunisia's wealth gap |
19.06% | 54.73% | 11.94% |
| 61 |  income distribution in Kenya |
18.96% | 52.56% | 11.73% |
| 62 | New Zealand's income inequality |
18.74% | 37.73% | 21.98% |
| 63 |  Romania's wealth gap |
18.70% | 45.13% | 15.27% |
| 64 |  income distribution in Madagascar |
18.68% | 52.07% | 12.63% |
| 65 |  income distribution in Maldives |
18.61% | 46.35% | 14.15% |
| 66 |  income distribution in South Africa |
18.58% | 59.29% | 8.99% |
| 67 |  Sri Lanka |
18.56% | 46.42% | 14.84% |
| 68 |  Uganda's wealth gap |
18.50% | 54.77% | 11.75% |
| 69 |  income distribution in El Salvador |
18.13% | 49.94% | 8.43% |
| 70 |  income distribution in Georgia |
18.07% | 44.75% | 14.80% |
| 71 |  Malaysia's income inequality |
18.05% | 44.65% | 14.48% |
| 72 |  income distribution in United Arab Emirates |
18.00% | 57.47% | 8.94% |
| 73 |  income distribution in Philippines |
17.86% | 48.67% | 12.36% |
| 74 |  Somalia's income inequality |
17.81% | 50.62% | 13.33% |
| 75 |  Taiwan |
17.19% | 46.07% | 11.00% |
| 76 |  Burkina Faso's wealth gap |
17.18% | 50.01% | 13.37% |
| 77 |  Cuba's income inequality |
16.84% | 46.08% | 12.13% |
| 78 |  Guinea-Bissau |
16.74% | 58.24% | 10.30% |
| 79 |  income distribution in Djibouti |
16.65% | 50.55% | 12.40% |
| 80 |  income distribution in Lesotho |
16.63% | 52.55% | 10.12% |
| 81 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
16.58% | 45.47% | 14.67% |
| 82 |  North Korea |
16.50% | 44.67% | 14.40% |
| 83 |  income distribution in Iran |
16.45% | 48.58% | 13.49% |
| 84 |  income distribution in Angola |
16.38% | 50.19% | 11.91% |
| 85 |  income distribution in Tanzania |
16.27% | 49.15% | 13.73% |
| 86 |  Pakistan's wealth gap |
16.23% | 42.83% | 17.12% |
| 87 |  Bhutan's wealth gap |
16.22% | 45.48% | 14.22% |
| 88 |  income distribution in Papua New Guinea |
16.21% | 46.14% | 13.03% |
| 89 |  Bangladesh's wealth gap |
16.12% | 43.62% | 16.22% |
| 90 |  Palau's wealth gap |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 91 |  Marshall Islands's wealth gap |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 92 |  Vanuatu's income inequality |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 93 |  income distribution in Solomon Islands |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 94 |  Fiji's wealth gap |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 95 |  Samoa's wealth gap |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 96 |  Kiribati's wealth gap |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 97 |  Nauru |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 98 |  Tonga's wealth gap |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 99 |  Tuvalu's income inequality |
15.95% | 46.27% | 17.02% |
| 100 |  income distribution in Zimbabwe |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 101 |  Ecuador's wealth gap |
15.90% | 48.46% | 10.17% |
| 102 |  income distribution in Algeria |
15.85% | 44.57% | 17.19% |
| 103 |  Cameroon's income inequality |
15.72% | 50.82% | 11.56% |
| 104 |  Kazakhstan's income inequality |
15.67% | 41.82% | 15.65% |
| 105 |  Benin's wealth gap |
15.59% | 51.14% | 12.39% |
| 106 |  China's income inequality |
15.56% | 42.74% | 13.90% |
| 107 |  Macao |
15.52% | 42.63% | 14.14% |
| 108 |  income distribution in Libya |
15.41% | 46.43% | 15.25% |
| 109 |  Mongolia |
15.40% | 42.97% | 14.92% |
| 110 |  Chad's wealth gap |
15.40% | 48.91% | 12.55% |
| 111 |  income distribution in Mauritius |
15.38% | 47.72% | 14.61% |
| 112 |  Afghanistan's income inequality |
15.36% | 40.81% | 17.85% |
| 113 |  Bahrain's income inequality |
15.19% | 49.23% | 13.54% |
| 114 |  Gabon's wealth gap |
15.10% | 48.30% | 13.15% |
| 115 |  Ghana's income inequality |
15.01% | 49.01% | 12.47% |
| 116 |  Ethiopia |
14.95% | 44.40% | 16.66% |
| 117 |  Eritrea |
14.95% | 44.40% | 16.66% |
| 118 |  Togo's income inequality |
14.92% | 50.70% | 11.45% |
| 119 |  Tajikistan |
14.68% | 40.72% | 16.32% |
| 120 |  income distribution in Kyrgyzstan |
14.43% | 40.60% | 17.25% |
| 121 |  Nepal's income inequality |
14.40% | 42.17% | 16.23% |
| 122 |  United Kingdom's wealth gap |
14.27% | 38.65% | 17.63% |
| 123 |  Niger's wealth gap |
14.27% | 46.41% | 15.60% |
| 124 |  Azerbaijan |
14.26% | 38.58% | 20.01% |
| 125 |  South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 126 |  Luxembourg's wealth gap |
14.05% | 36.97% | 20.00% |
| 127 |  Singapore |
13.85% | 44.80% | 17.28% |
| 128 |  Burundi |
13.68% | 46.54% | 14.99% |
| 129 |  Poland's income inequality |
13.64% | 36.44% | 19.89% |
| 130 |  Morocco's wealth gap |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 131 |  Senegal's wealth gap |
13.29% | 47.40% | 13.50% |
| 132 |  Argentina's wealth gap |
13.06% | 41.71% | 12.21% |
| 133 |  Germany's wealth gap |
12.98% | 37.25% | 19.11% |
| 134 |  Guinea |
12.91% | 45.03% | 14.72% |
| 135 |  Serbia's wealth gap |
12.87% | 38.08% | 15.15% |
| 136 |  Spain's wealth gap |
12.62% | 35.88% | 19.95% |
| 137 |  Armenia |
12.19% | 36.37% | 19.74% |
| 138 |  Liberia's income inequality |
12.18% | 43.91% | 15.69% |
| 139 |  Japan |
12.07% | 42.81% | 18.06% |
| 140 |  Equatorial Guinea |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 141 |  Bulgaria's income inequality |
11.87% | 35.46% | 19.69% |
| 142 |  Canada |
11.86% | 35.88% | 17.23% |
| 143 |  Latvia |
11.59% | 38.18% | 18.03% |
| 144 |  income distribution in Lithuania |
11.44% | 37.77% | 18.33% |
| 145 |  income distribution in Moldova |
11.42% | 37.27% | 16.14% |
| 146 | Belarus |
11.38% | 35.04% | 20.90% |
| 147 |  income distribution in Sudan |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 148 |  Sierra Leone's wealth gap |
11.24% | 44.46% | 15.26% |
| 149 | Hungary's income inequality |
11.19% | 33.35% | 23.45% |
| 150 | Norway |
11.17% | 31.06% | 24.94% |
| 151 |  Australia's income inequality |
10.94% | 35.12% | 17.66% |
| 152 |  Nigeria's income inequality |
10.72% | 42.91% | 14.95% |
| 153 | income distribution in Switzerland |
10.61% | 31.75% | 22.91% |
| 154 | France's wealth gap |
10.36% | 33.30% | 20.32% |
| 155 |  income distribution in Mauritania |
10.35% | 41.34% | 15.51% |
| 156 | Ireland |
10.03% | 32.51% | 21.50% |
| 157 |  Cyprus's wealth gap |
10.01% | 34.95% | 19.27% |
| 158 | Sweden |
9.94% | 30.49% | 23.78% |
| 159 |  San Marino's income inequality |
9.88% | 33.46% | 19.54% |
| 160 |  Monaco's income inequality |
9.88% | 33.46% | 19.54% |
| 161 |  income distribution in Liechtenstein |
9.88% | 33.46% | 19.54% |
| 162 |  income distribution in Andorra |
9.88% | 33.46% | 19.54% |
| 163 |  Mali |
9.69% | 41.26% | 16.34% |
| 164 | Denmark's income inequality |
9.69% | 29.14% | 24.06% |
| 165 |  Portugal |
9.67% | 37.47% | 18.81% |
| 166 |  Estonia's income inequality |
9.53% | 34.42% | 18.99% |
| 167 | Slovakia |
9.45% | 29.86% | 23.97% |
| 168 |  income distribution in Montenegro |
9.34% | 34.92% | 16.97% |
| 169 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's wealth gap |
9.14% | 34.37% | 17.87% |
| 170 | income distribution in Finland |
9.01% | 32.28% | 21.66% |
| 171 |  Sao Tome and Principe |
8.97% | 39.41% | 17.43% |
| 172 | Malta's wealth gap |
8.83% | 32.09% | 21.28% |
| 173 | Ukraine |
8.68% | 31.61% | 23.18% |
| 174 |  Croatia's income inequality |
8.68% | 32.83% | 19.08% |
| 175 |  Kosovo's wealth gap |
8.67% | 34.28% | 17.15% |
| 176 | income distribution in Austria |
8.64% | 31.31% | 22.80% |
| 177 |  income distribution in Albania |
8.51% | 32.75% | 19.11% |
| 178 | Greece's wealth gap |
8.46% | 32.50% | 20.15% |
| 179 |  income distribution in North Macedonia |
7.86% | 33.49% | 17.12% |
| 180 | Italy |
7.60% | 30.42% | 21.82% |
| 181 | Belgium's wealth gap |
7.49% | 30.94% | 21.09% |
| 182 | income distribution in Slovenia |
7.13% | 29.78% | 22.72% |
| 183 | Netherlands's wealth gap |
6.57% | 28.65% | 23.53% |
| 184 | Iceland's income inequality |
6.56% | 27.57% | 24.38% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.