World Inequality Report 2026 Released

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In Summary

The 3rd edition of the World Inequality Lab report highlights extreme global and Indian wealth–income concentration, widening climate and structural inequalities, and recommends progressive taxation, stronger public investment, gender equity measures, climate policies centered on public ownership, and international financial reforms to reduce disparities.

In Summary

This is the 3^rd edition of the report after 2018 and 2022, prepared by the World Inequality Lab.

Key Findings of the Report

Global Wealth Concentration: Top 1% control 37% and top 10% share 75% of all global wealth.
- India: Top 1% holds about 40% and top 10% hold around 65% of total wealth.
Global Income Concentration: Top 10% share 53% of global income.
- India: Top 1% earns around 23% and top 10% capture 58% of national income.
Wealth Growth: Since the 1990s, the wealth of billionaires has grown (at 8%) nearly twice the rate of bottom half of the population.
Climate Inequality:Top 10% account for 77% of carbon emissions, while the poorest half accounts for only 3%.
Structural Imbalance: Each year Global South transfer more than 1% of world GDP to Global North through debt service, profit repatriation, and financial flows (3 times more than development aid).

Policy Recommendations in the Report

Progressive Taxation and Tax Justice: Global minimum tax on billionaires and internationalanti-evasion coordination to fund public goods and cut inequality.
Public Investment: Fund free high-quality education, healthcare, childcare, and nutrition to reduce early disparities and boost opportunities.
Redistributive Programs: Use cash transfers, pensions, and unemployment benefits to shift resources downward.
Gender Equality Measures: Provide affordable childcare and parental leave, enforce equal pay, and protect against discrimination to redistribute unpaid care work.
Climate Policy Focused on Ownership: Climatesubsidies with progressive taxes and green investments by public sector (instead of private) to reach net-zero without wealth concentration.
International Financial Reform: Introduce global currency, centralized credit systems, and surplus taxes to aid social investment in developing countries.