Wealth inequality has widened to historic extremes, with the richest 0.1% holding more net assets than the bottom 80% combined across 27 countries. Major economies where capital is overwhelmingly concentrated in the hands of a minute elite include the United States, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
Countries with the Highest Wealth Concentration
According to findings from the World Inequality Database (WID), Russia exhibits the steepest concentration of private wealth. In Russia, the wealthiest 0.1% commands 32.21% of the country’s total wealth, while the bottom 80% accounts for merely 14.59%.
South Africa demonstrates an even starker gap for the majority: the top 0.1% controls 29.95% of national wealth, whereas the bottom 80% possesses just 4.70%. In India, the wealthiest 0.1% holds 29.69% of aggregate wealth, compared to 22.92% held by the lower 80%.
Differentiating Wealth from Income Inequality
The study clarifies that wealth inequality and income inequality represent distinct economic metrics. Income refers to the continuous flow of money received over a specific time period, such as wages or salaries. Wealth, by contrast, reflects the net value of accumulated assets—including real estate, private businesses, equities, and liquid savings—minus all outstanding liabilities and debts.
The report notes that inherited capital, the initial distribution of productive assets, and returns generated on capital investments play a decisive role in entrenching these divides. These structural mechanisms enable wealth gaps to persist and compound across generations.
