In the modern world, 10% of the wealthy earn more than the rest of the Earth's population
Studies have shown that global inequality between the rich and the poor has reached an extreme degree. According to the report "World Inequality Report 2026" from The World Inequality Lab, 10% of people with the highest incomes earn more than all other 90% combined.
In terms of asset value, 75% of all wealth is in the hands of these 10%, while the poorest part of the population accounts for only 2%. Meanwhile, fewer than 60 thousand multi-millionaires (0.001% of the population) control three times more wealth than half of humanity.
The report also revealed gender inequality: women, on average, earn only 61% of men's hourly wages. Moreover, the wealthy minority is primarily responsible for climate change: they account for 77% of harmful CO₂ emissions associated with private property, while the poorer half accounts for only 3%.
Existing inequality has been growing since the 1990s: the wealth of multi-millionaires increases by approximately 8% annually, almost twice as fast as the wealth of the rest of the population. Researchers emphasize that extreme inequality threatens the stability of the economy, democracy, and ecosystems, and requires urgent measures to reduce it.
The report is published every four years since 2018 in cooperation with the UN Development Programme and uses data from 200 scientists worldwide. It forms the basis for discussions on fiscal reforms, taxation of the wealthy, and income redistribution.
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