We live in a world data-abundant world and yet basic information about income and wealth inequality are missing. Growth numbers are published every year by governments across the globe, but they do not inform about how growth is distributed across the population – about who gains and who loses from economic policies. Accessing such data is critical for democracy.

This report presents the most up-to-date synthesis of international research efforts to track global inequalities. The data and analysis presented in the report is based on the work of over a hundred researchers over four years, located across all continents and contributing to the World Inequality Database (WID.world), maintained by the World Inequality Lab. This vast network collaborates with tax authorities, statistical institutions, universities and international organizations to harmonize, analyze and disseminate comparable international inequality data.