Global Report: richest 10% now own 75% of world’s wealth

The World Inequality Report 2026 reveals that global wealth and income gaps have widened to their highest levels on record, with a tiny elite holding unprecedented financial power while billions remain economically vulnerable.

The richest 10 percent of the world’s population now own 75 percent of all personal wealth, the report finds, while the poorest half hold just 2 percent. Income inequality follows a similar pattern: the top 10 percent take home 53 percent of global income, whereas the bottom 50 percent receive only 8 percent. Despite modest gains among low-income groups, rapid accumulation at the top continues to outpace them.

Regional disparities remain stark. North America and Oceania hold more than three times the global average wealth, followed by Europe and East Asia. Meanwhile, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Middle East remain far below global norms, with birthplace still one of the strongest predictors of lifetime income and wealth.

South Africa again ranks as the most unequal country, with the top 10 percent earning 66 percent of income and controlling 85 percent of wealth. Similar extremes appear in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Even wealthy nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom show deep disparities, with the richest 10 percent holding more than half of all assets.