The Richest 3% Hold a Fifth of Collective Income Worldwide

According to Gallup, income inequality levels are highest in sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia. Across 131 countries the richest 3 percent of residents hold 20 percent of total collective household income, and so do the poorest.

This means that 3 percent of people reporting the highest household incomes share the same portion of household income as more than half of all residents worldwide. Income inequality can lead to stagnant development in poorer nations, so the scale of the differences are of great concern.

Even though income inequality is prevelant in developing countries, it has also made its presence felt in wealthier regions. Indeed, the richest 4 percent of Americans and the poorest 54 percent each hold a 20 percent of the country’s collective household income.