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Global Inequality Report 2026 Finds Extreme Wealth Concentration as Mexico Sees Only Modest Gains

The World Inequality Lab urges progressive taxation to counter entrenched fortunes.

Overview

  • The richest 10% take 53% of global income and hold about 75% of wealth, while the poorest half receives 8% of income and owns roughly 2% of assets.
  • The top 1% controls about 37% of global wealth, and roughly 60,000 individuals hold more wealth than the bottom half of humanity; this group generates an estimated 41% of emissions.
  • In Mexico, the top decile captures around 59% of income and holds about 71% of wealth, with the top 1% owning roughly 38% of national assets.
  • Mexico’s income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% narrowed from a ratio of 111 to 76 between 2014 and 2024, a modest shift linked to transfers, minimum wage gains and improved collection from higher earners.
  • The report outlines measures such as a narrowly targeted 2–5% wealth tax on fewer than 100,000 ultra-wealthy people that could raise 0.45–1.11% of world GDP, alongside calls for transparency, anti-evasion efforts and reforms to international financial governance as net South-to-North flows exceed 1% of global GDP.