Fewer than 60,000 people – 0.001% of the world’s population – control three times as much wealth as the entire bottom half of humanity, according to a report that argues global inequality has reached such extremes that urgent action has become essential.
The authoritative World Inequality Report 2026, based on data compiled by 200 researchers, also found that the top 10% of income-earners earn more than the other 90% combined, while the poorest half captures less than 10% of total global earnings.
Wealth – the value of people’s assets – was even more concentrated than income, or earnings from work and investments, the report found, with the richest 10% of the world’s population owning 75% of wealth and the bottom half just 2%.
In almost every region, the top 1% was wealthier than the bottom 90% combined, the report found, with wealth inequality increasing rapidly around the world.
“The result is a world in which a tiny minority commands unprecedented financial power, while billions remain excluded from even basic economic stability,” the authors, led by Ricardo Gómez-Carrera of the Paris School of Economics, wrote.
I don’t think it’s fair to compare incomes across the planet without considering cost and quality of life it buys.
For example, my current salary working in London is some seven to ten times higher than what I’d be earning in Hungary - but the differences in cost of living (okay arguably my quality of life is better though) means that general long term goals like buying a flat, will take about the same time to get started with (mortgage application, saving for deposit, etc.), and same time or even longer to finish (as in fully paid off).
Compared to a poverty-stricken African country sure I’m better off, but equating high earners with the true source of the problem, the aforementioned 60 thousand people, is disingenuous in my opinion. High earners aren’t the problem - generational wealth that “generates” more wealth is.
“things are hard for the petit-bourgeoisie too” really isn’t the argument you think it is lol.
There’s a pretty huge difference between “my expenses are a lot and I’m kind of illiquid right now” and “gee I hope I can eat this week”
Holy shit is this instance full of idiots.
Who the fuck said anything about petit bourgeoisie? A high EARNER still has to work, dipshit. Still has to produce something to get paid. We’re not talking about landlords here, or shitheads living off investments, but people like DOCTORS. Do you consider medical professionals “petit bourgeoisie” just because they earn more than the average?
And even high earners can be in the “gee I hope I can eat this week” category.
But please do skip my point about cost of living being important when it comes to wages, and fight a completely made up argument you put in my mouth because fictional BS is easier to fight than what I actually said.
What happens if the petit-bourgeoisie stop working? No food? Oh shiiiiit.
It’s almost like that’s a term used to discredit members of the working class. Don’t go throwing away allies in the fight to end the rich.
Petit bourgeois are generally NOT part of the working class. They’re by definition the lower segment of the middle class (European style class structure where lower class IS the working class, middle class distincts itself by the fact they’re not required to be in employ of others to make their income).
Then the term definitely doesn’t apply to the “professional” class in the US. You generally aren’t hanging your own shingle until late in your career or if you came from money. Doctors are very much reliant on employers here and most of the West.
Most of them don’t see themselves as part of the working class and are directly contributing to the current status quo we see around us
If you look at the polling on the universal policies then you’ll see they very much do. It’s hard not to be aware that you would starve if you didn’t have a job.
The far more troubling problem to me is the division of wealth inside the countries. If we tackled that then there would also be a lot more money for the workers at the foreign owned factory in Hungary. You are right that the national income isn’t the problem, but you’re missing that the wealth gap in the wealthiest countries feeds the gap between countries and regions too.