Global Inequality Presents Massive Opportunity for High-Income Nations to Support Lower-Income Countries, New Analysis Shows
Oxford, UK – A new analysis published today by Our World in data reveals a stark reality: global inequality remains immense, but concurrently presents a significant opportunity for residents of high-income countries to meaningfully impact the lives of those in lower-income nations.The research, conducted by Simon van Teutem and Joe Hasell, highlights the vast disparity in income and resources while quantifying the potential for philanthropic action.
The core finding centers on the sheer scale of the gap. While global extreme poverty has declined significantly in recent decades, the concentration of wealth remains heavily skewed. The analysis demonstrates that even modest contributions from individuals in wealthier nations could dramatically improve living standards elsewhere. This isn’t simply about charity; it’s framed as a practical opportunity to address global inequities and improve overall well-being.
The report builds upon decades of research into global growth and income distribution. it acknowledges the historical context of colonialism, trade imbalances, and systemic disadvantages that contribute to the current state of global inequality.However, it focuses on the present-day potential for redistribution, emphasizing that the economic capacity to alleviate suffering exists, particularly within the highest income brackets.
Van Teutem and Hasell’s work meticulously examines income distributions across the globe, utilizing data from sources like the World Bank and the United Nations. They demonstrate that the income of the richest 1% globally dwarfs that of the bottom 50%. This concentration of wealth isn’t merely a statistical anomaly; it translates directly into vastly different access to essential resources like healthcare, education, and basic necessities.
The analysis doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the complexities of effective giving. It implicitly touches upon the importance of choosing impactful charities and organizations that demonstrably improve outcomes. While the report doesn’t explicitly recommend specific charities, it underscores the need for informed and strategic philanthropy.
The authors also highlight the role of governmental aid and international development organizations,but emphasize that individual contributions,when aggregated,can represent a significant force for change. They suggest that even a small percentage of disposable income allocated to effective giving could yield significant results.
The report concludes with a call to action, framing the opportunity to support those in lower-income countries not as an act of altruism, but as a pragmatic and achievable step towards a more equitable world. It’s a message particularly resonant in a time of increasing global interconnectedness and awareness of shared challenges.
How to Cite:
Simon van Teutem and Joe Hasell (2025) – “Global inequality is huge – but so is the opportunity for people in high-income countries to support poor people” Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/global-inequality-opportunity-to-give’ [Online Resource]
BibTeX citation:
@article{owid-global-inequality-opportunity-to-give,
author = {Simon van Teutem and Joe Hasell},
title = {Global inequality is huge - but so is the opportunity for people in high-income countries to support poor people},
journal = {our World in Data},
year = {2025},
note = {https://ourworldindata.org/global-inequality-opportunity-to-give}
}
License:
All visualizations, data, and code produced by Our World in Data are completely open access under the Creative Commons BY license. Reuse is permitted with attribution.Data from third parties is subject to their respective license terms.
Acknowledgements:
The authors extend thanks to Ryan Briggs, Charles Kenny, Tyler Hall, Pablo Arriagada, Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser, Edouard Mathieu, Bastian Herre, and saloni Dattani for their insights, feedback, and comments on this article.
