An “analysis published in The Economist finds that global inequality in consumption spending is falling. In 2000, the richest 10 percent of humanity spent 40 times more than the poorest 50 percent. In 2025, they spent around 18 times more.” And another report from an economist “finds that not only has global well-being improved substantially since 1990, but global inequality in well-being has also fallen across many metrics.”
The Economist explains:
At first glance the global economy looks more uneven than ever: billionaires’ fortunes keep breaking records, asset prices have soared and voters across rich countries insist that life is getting harder and more expensive. Yet in the 21st century the world economy has kept getting more equal.
Data released on January 20th, covering 194 countries and economies, and compiled by the World Data Lab, a research firm, show that the ratio between spending by the world’s richest 10% and the poorest 50% has more than halved since 2000. Back then, the rich spent about 40 times more than the poor; today the figure is closer to 18. Over the same period, the richest 1% have also seen their share of consumption shrink.
The shift is driven mostly by gains in low- and middle-income economies, rather than changes in rich countries. Poorer countries have grown faster than rich ones and consumption has risen with incomes. The ratio of average American to Indian spending, for instance, has more than halved over the past 25 years, from more than 16 to less than eight.
Poverty has fallen in most of the world over the last 5 years.
Child poverty is at its lowest level in human history.
Poverty has declined rapidly in the world’s most mountainous country, Bhutan.
Poverty has declined in Latin America, except in countries ruled by socialist dictatorships.
Global life expectancy and income are at an all-time high.
