World Inequality Lab Releases World Inequality Report 2026

The World Inequality Lab unveiled its third flagship World Inequality Report 2026, drawing on research from over 200 global scholars. The report exposes deepening income, wealth, and emissions gaps, with India facing extreme concentration at the top amid modest average earnings.

India’s Inequality Snapshot

• Income Divide: Top 10% captures 58% of national income; bottom 50% gets just 15%.
• Wealth Concentration: Richest 10% holds ~65% of total wealth; top 1% owns ~40%.
• Per Capita Averages: Annual income ~€6,200 (PPP); wealth ~€28,000 (PPP).

Global Wealth Extremes

• Ultra-Rich Dominance: Top 0.001% (<60,000 multi-millionaires) owns 3x more than bottom half of humanity.
• Top-Heavy Distribution: Global top 10% controls 75% of wealth; bottom 50% holds only 2%.

Gender Pay Gaps Persist

• Paid Work Only: Women earn 61% of men’s hourly wages.
• Including Unpaid Labor: Drops to 32%, highlighting unpaid domestic burdens worldwide.

Climate Emissions Linked to Wealth

• Poor’s Tiny Footprint: Bottom 50% of global population responsible for just 3% of private capital ownership emissions.
• Elite’s Outsized Impact: Top 10% emits 77%; wealthiest 1% alone at 41%—nearly double the bottom 90%.