The so-called 1% of a nation’s highest earners have become one of the most politicized cohorts in our society. They have been criticized for exercising disproportionate power in the economy and in government, and have been pilloried for not paying their fair share of taxes.
In this country, they have become the bête noire of progressives. Filmmaker Jamie Johnson made a movie actually called “The One Percent,” about how the very richest segment of American society has accumulated so much power that it is a threat to democracy.
To find the 50 countries with the richest rich people, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the World Inequality Database’s 2022 World Inequality Report, ranking countries by the highest percentage of each country’s wealth controlled by the top 1% of their earners. In the countries on this list, the 1% hold at least 31% of total household wealth.
The world’s richest countries are by no means necessarily the same as those countries where the 1% controls the most wealth. The list of countries includes some of the world’s poorest nations, including Rwanda, Malawi, and Benin. Still, the list also includes some of the world’s wealthiest nations, including Switzerland, Qatar, and the U.S., which ranks 30th. (These are the richest countries in the world.)
Most of the nations whose richest 1% hold at least 31% of total household wealth are African and Asian countries whose economies are the fastest growing in the world. In the course of this development, wealth has been accumulated by a select few in industries such as energy, communications, technology, and agriculture. As a result, some of these countries have the greatest disparity of wealth in the world. (These are the countries with the biggest income gaps.)
While the 1% in the United States have become ever richer, their share of our nation’s wealth is significantly lower than that in some other countries among the 50 on this list. While the top 1% of households hold nearly 36% of wealth in the United States, the top 1% hold a whopping 55% share of wealth in the No. 1 ranked country.
Click here to see the countries with the richest rich people
Click here to see our methodology
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
50. Israel
> Household wealth share top 1%: 31.11% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 62.32% — #60 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 32.72% — #56 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 4.96% — #76 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $40,963 — #16 highest of 150 countries
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49. Comoros
> Household wealth share top 1%: 31.20% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 64.23% — #47 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 31.62% — #46 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 4.15% — #54 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
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Source: orpheus26 / Getty Images
48. Singapore
> Household wealth share top 1%: 31.24% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 62.08% — #62 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 32.86% — #58 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 5.06% — #82 highest of 174 countries
> Average income: $71,326 — #4 highest of 150 countries
Source: extravagantni / Getty Images
47. Switzerland
> Household wealth share top 1%: 31.50% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 62.85% — #54 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 33.44% — #62 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.71% — #48 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $50,140 — #9 highest of 150 countries
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Source: Aurelie1 / Getty Images
46. Madagascar
> Household wealth share top 1%: 32.01% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 65.00% — #45 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 31.07% — #44 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.94% — #51 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $2,537 — #11 lowest of 150 countries
Source: holgs / Getty Images
45. Philippines
> Household wealth share top 1%: 32.02% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 62.83% — #55 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 32.28% — #49 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 4.89% — #73 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $9,871 — #61 lowest of 150 countries
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44. Cyprus
> Household wealth share top 1%: 32.19% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 66.41% — #41 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 29.48% — #38 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 4.11% — #53 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $32,360 — #27 highest of 150 countries
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Source: Joel Carillet / iStock via Getty Images
43. Palestine
> Household wealth share top 1%: 32.61% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 65.57% — #44 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 30.65% — #43 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.77% — #49 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
Source: KavalenkavaVolha / Getty Images
42. Estonia
> Household wealth share top 1%: 32.70% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 66.44% — #40 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 32.30% — #50 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.26% — #22 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $27,388 — #36 highest of 150 countries
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Source: Konstik / Getty Images
41. India
> Household wealth share top 1%: 33.01% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 64.64% — #46 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 29.46% — #37 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 5.90% — #32 highest of 174 countries
> Average income: $7,095 — #46 lowest of 150 countries
Source: Starcevic / E+ via Getty Images
40. Colombia
> Household wealth share top 1%: 33.18% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 63.94% — #48 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 31.44% — #45 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 4.62% — #63 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $13,417 — #75 highest of 150 countries
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39. Hungary
> Household wealth share top 1%: 33.47% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 67.26% — #36 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 28.84% — #32 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.90% — #50 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $20,965 — #53 highest of 150 countries
Source: Leonid Andronov / Getty Images
38. Bahrain
> Household wealth share top 1%: 33.48% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 66.41% — #41 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 30.06% — #42 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.53% — #44 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $41,268 — #15 highest of 150 countries
Source: derejeb / iStock
37. Tanzania
> Household wealth share top 1%: 33.75% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 66.45% — #39 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 29.99% — #41 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.56% — #45 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $4,311 — #25 lowest of 150 countries
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Source: vestica / iStock via Getty Images
36. Equatorial Guinea
> Household wealth share top 1%: 34.11% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 67.01% — #38 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 29.64% — #40 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.35% — #42 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $21,874 — #48 highest of 150 countries
Source: Soft_Light / Getty Images
35. Myanmar
> Household wealth share top 1%: 34.16% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 67.06% — #37 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 29.60% — #39 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.34% — #40 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $6,808 — #45 lowest of 150 countries
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34. Cameroon
> Household wealth share top 1%: 35.03% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 67.90% — #33 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 29.01% — #36 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.09% — #38 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $5,354 — #34 lowest of 150 countries
Source: OGphoto / E+ via Getty Images
33. Costa Rica
> Household wealth share top 1%: 35.06% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 67.93% — #32 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 28.99% — #35 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.08% — #36 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $17,933 — #60 highest of 150 countries
Source: mtcurado / Getty Images
32. Uganda
> Household wealth share top 1%: 35.15% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 68.01% — #31 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 28.94% — #34 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.06% — #35 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $3,424 — #17 lowest of 150 countries
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Source: dibrova / Getty Images
31. Seychelles
> Household wealth share top 1%: 35.31% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 68.17% — #30 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 28.83% — #31 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.01% — #34 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $26,730 — #39 highest of 150 countries
Source: TomasSereda / Getty Images
30. USA
> Household wealth share top 1%: 35.88% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 71.12% — #29 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 27.39% — #30 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.48% — #25 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $51,894 — #7 highest of 150 countries
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Source: Seqoya / Getty Images
29. Turkey
> Household wealth share top 1%: 36.90% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 67.47% — #35 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 28.86% — #33 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.67% — #47 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $25,788 — #40 highest of 150 countries
Source: serkansenturk / Getty Images
28. Iraq
> Household wealth share top 1%: 39.05% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 71.84% — #28 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 26.30% — #29 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.86% — #30 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
Source: Vadim_Nefedov / Getty Images
27. Rwanda
> Household wealth share top 1%: 39.47% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 72.25% — #26 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 26.02% — #28 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.73% — #29 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $2,990 — #14 lowest of 150 countries
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Source: MOHAMED HUSSAIN YOUNIS / iStock via Getty Images
26. Saudi Arabia
> Household wealth share top 1%: 39.57% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 72.36% — #25 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 25.95% — #27 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.70% — #28 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $53,732 — #6 highest of 150 countries
Source: Anson Fernandez Dionisio / Getty Images
25. Kuwait
> Household wealth share top 1%: 39.93% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 72.71% — #24 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 25.71% — #25 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.58% — #26 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $78,903 — #3 highest of 150 countries
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24. Benin
> Household wealth share top 1%: 40.85% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 73.63% — #22 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 25.09% — #23 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.28% — #23 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $3,456 — #18 lowest of 150 countries
Source: Tamer_Desouky / Getty Images
23. Zimbabwe
> Household wealth share top 1%: 41.64% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 72.05% — #27 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 25.64% — #24 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 2.31% — #33 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $4,383 — #26 lowest of 150 countries
Source: USO / iStock via Getty Images
22. Congo
> Household wealth share top 1%: 42.43% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 75.23% — #18 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 24.02% — #19 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 0.75% — #21 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $6,734 — #44 lowest of 150 countries
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Source: franckreporter / Getty Images
21. Qatar
> Household wealth share top 1%: 42.86% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 73.25% — #23 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 24.82% — #22 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.94% — #31 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $94,211 — #2 highest of 150 countries
Source: Lukas Bischoff / Getty Images
20. Oman
> Household wealth share top 1%: 43.03% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 74.30% — #19 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 24.30% — #20 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.40% — #24 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
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Source: Robert_Ford / Getty Images
19. Malawi
> Household wealth share top 1%: 43.14% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 75.95% — #17 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 23.55% — #18 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 0.50% — #20 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $1,892 — #6 lowest of 150 countries
Source: JandaliPhoto / Getty Images
18. United Arab Emirates
> Household wealth share top 1%: 43.47% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 76.29% — #16 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 23.32% — #17 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 0.39% — #18 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
Source: Deejpilot / E+ via Getty Images
17. Thailand
> Household wealth share top 1%: 43.61% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 73.99% — #21 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 24.31% — #21 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 1.70% — #28 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $13,703 — #71 highest of 150 countries
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Source: AdemarRangel / Getty Images
16. Angola
> Household wealth share top 1%: 44.67% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 77.53% — #14 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 22.51% — #14 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.04% — #16 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
Source: Christian Vinces / iStock via Getty Images
15. Peru
> Household wealth share top 1%: 44.72% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 76.78% — #15 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 22.82% — #16 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 0.40% — #19 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $13,638 — #72 highest of 150 countries
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14. Botswana
> Household wealth share top 1%: 45.57% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 78.47% — #13 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 21.90% — #13 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.37% — #13 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $17,575 — #61 highest of 150 countries
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Source: Virginia Yunes / Getty Images
13. Guinea-Bissau
> Household wealth share top 1%: 46.04% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 78.96% — #10 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 21.59% — #12 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.55% — #11 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
Source: Jason J Mulikita / Getty Images
12. Zambia
> Household wealth share top 1%: 46.80% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 79.76% — #9 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 21.07% — #9 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.83% — #8 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $6,012 — #39 lowest of 150 countries
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Source: ferrantraite / Getty Images
11. Mexico
> Household wealth share top 1%: 46.90% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 78.71% — #11 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 21.49% — #11 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.20% — #15 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $18,501 — #58 highest of 150 countries
Source: Nate Hovee / iStock via Getty Images
10. Namibia
> Household wealth share top 1%: 47.39% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 80.38% — #6 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 20.68% — #8 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -1.06% — #7 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $13,248 — #75 lowest of 150 countries
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9. Mozambique
> Household wealth share top 1%: 47.45% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 80.44% — #4 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 20.64% — #7 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -1.08% — #6 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $2,106 — #7 lowest of 150 countries
Source: mtcurado / iStock via Getty Images
8. Central African Republic
> Household wealth share top 1%: 47.51% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 80.51% — #3 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 20.60% — #6 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -1.11% — #5 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $1,318 — #2 lowest of 150 countries
Source: Mordolff / E+ via Getty Images
7. Russian Federation
> Household wealth share top 1%: 47.69% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 74.12% — #20 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 22.79% — #15 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 3.09% — #38 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $21,131 — #50 highest of 150 countries
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Source: Rui T Guedes / iStock via Getty Images
6. São Tomé and Principe
> Household wealth share top 1%: 47.88% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 80.90% — #2 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 20.35% — #4 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -1.25% — #4 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: No data
Source: ramzihachicho / Getty Images
5. Lebanon
> Household wealth share top 1%: 48.22% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 78.65% — #12 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 21.20% — #10 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: 0.14% — #17 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $13,630 — #73 highest of 150 countries
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4. Brazil
> Household wealth share top 1%: 48.91% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 79.81% — #8 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 20.55% — #5 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.36% — #14 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $13,931 — #70 highest of 150 countries
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3. Chile
> Household wealth share top 1%: 49.55% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 80.43% — #5 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 20.14% — #3 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.57% — #10 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $22,256 — #47 highest of 150 countries
Source: EunikaSopotnicka / iStock via Getty Images
2. Swaziland
> Household wealth share top 1%: 49.85% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 80.34% — #7 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 20.11% — #2 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -0.45% — #12 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $12,950 — #72 lowest of 150 countries
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Source: Ben1183 / Getty Images
1. South Africa
> Household wealth share top 1%: 55.03% of all household wealth
> Household wealth top 10%: 85.67% — #1 highest of 174 countries
> Household wealth mid 40%: 16.78% — #1 lowest of 174 countries
> Household wealth bottom 50%: -2.44% — #2 lowest of 174 countries
> Average income: $13,205 — #74 lowest of 150 countries
Methodology:
To find the 50 countries with the richest rich people, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the World Inequality Database’s 2022 World Inequality Report, ranking countries by the highest percentage of wealth controlled by the top 1% of their earners. All 174 countries in the report are included. Data is as of 2021.
Data on how much wealth the top 10%, mid 40%, and bottom 50% control, as well as average income is also drawn from the report. Average national income is defined in the report as “the sum of all pretax personal income flows accruing to the owners of the production factors, labor and capital, including social insurance benefits (and removing corresponding contributions), but excluding other forms of redistribution (income tax, social assistance benefits, etc.).” The report uses purchasing power parity for inequality estimates. Estimates correct for inflation using the national income deflator (base 2021). The population whose income is recorded comprises individuals over age 20.
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