World Inequality Report 2026: Top 0.001% Own 3x More Than Bottom Half

Released on December 10, 2025, by the World Inequality Lab (co-directed by economists including Thomas Piketty, Lucas Chancel, and others), the World Inequality Report 2026 exposes unprecedented levels of inequality across income, wealth, gender, climate responsibility, and geography. This third edition highlights that these divides are not inevitable but the result of political choices – and reversible through bold policy action.

Shocking Global Wealth & Income Concentration

• Wealth Inequality:
  • Top 10% own 75% of global wealth.
  • Bottom 50% hold just 2%.
  • Top 1% control 37% – 18 times more than the bottom half.
  • Ultra-rich top 0.001% (~60,000 multimillionaires) own over 6% of total wealth (up from 4% in 1995) – three times more than the poorest 4 billion people combined.
• Income Disparities:
  • Average daily income: €125 in North America & Oceania vs €10 in Sub-Saharan Africa (13-fold gap).
  • Top 10% earners capture the majority of national income in most countries.

Multi-Dimensional Inequality in Focus

• Gender Inequality:
  • Women work longer hours overall (53 hours/week vs 43 for men, including unpaid care and domestic work).
  • Paid hourly earnings: Women earn 61% of men’s.
  • Including unpaid work: Drops to just 32%.
  • Women’s share of global labor income remains stuck at ~26% since 1990.
• Climate Inequality:
  • Top 10% responsible for 77% of emissions linked to private capital ownership.
  • Top 1% alone account for 41%.
  • Poorest 50% emit only 3% but suffer the worst climate impacts.
• Human Capital Gaps:
  • Education spending per child: €220 (PPP) in Sub-Saharan Africa vs €9,020 in North America – over 40 times lower.
• Global Financial System:
  • Annual net transfer of ~1% of global GDP flows from poorer to richer nations – triple the amount of total development aid.

India’s Stark Position in World Inequality Report 2026

India emerges as one of the most unequal large economies, with levels rivaling or exceeding Brazil and the United States:

• Top income shares have returned to colonial-era peaks.
• Female labor force participation rate stagnant at 15.7% – among the world’s lowest.
• Average annual per capita income: ~€6,200 (PPP).
• Average wealth: ~€28,000 (PPP).

Key Policy Recommendations: A Roadmap to Reduce Inequality

The report calls for comprehensive reforms:

• Progressive Taxation: Higher taxes on extreme wealth and income; carbon taxes aligned with emissions.
• Massive Public Investment: Free, high-quality education, universal healthcare, childcare, and nutrition.
• Gender Equality Measures: Affordable childcare, equal parental leave, strict equal pay enforcement.
• Strong Social Protection: Cash transfers, pensions, unemployment benefits.
• Global Financial Reform: New international arrangements to stop resource drain from the Global South.

India’s Efforts to Tackle Inequality

India has launched several initiatives:

• MGNREGA (rural employment guarantee)
• PMEGP (employment generation program)
• DAY-NULM (urban livelihoods mission)
• Samagra Shiksha (universal education)
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (financial inclusion)
• Lakhpati Didi (women’s economic empowerment)

However, the report suggests India needs stronger redistribution mechanisms and policies to boost female workforce participation.

Conclusion: Inequality Is a Choice – Change Is Possible

The World Inequality Report 2026 warns that unchecked extremes threaten social cohesion, democracy, and climate goals. Yet it offers hope: proven policies in more equal societies show that fairer, greener, and more inclusive growth is achievable through political will.

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