0.001% hold three times the wealth of poorest half, report finds
The World Inequality Report 2026, compiled by 200 researchers, finds extreme global wealth concentration and warns urgent policy action is needed.
- Fewer than 60,000 people, or 0.001% of the world population, control three times the wealth of the poorest 50%.
- The top 10% of the global population own 75% of wealth while the bottom half own just 2%.
- The top 10% of income earners take in more than the other 90% combined, and in most regions the top 1% are richer than the bottom 90% combined.
- The share of global wealth held by the top 0.001% grew from about 4% in 1995 to more than 6% by 2025, and multimillionaire wealth rose roughly 8% annually since the 1990s.
- The richest 10% account for about 77% of emissions tied to private capital ownership while the poorest half account for only 3%.
- The report says a 3% global tax on fewer than 100,000 centimillionaires and billionaires would raise about $750bn a year and that public investment and fairer taxation could reduce inequality but political will is the main barrier.