Social Inequality

After decades of highly emotional campaigns about social inequality and poverty in foreign countries, it is understandable why so many in the wealthiest countries no longer react the same way to the same images – especially when such support seems at one level not to have produced substantial results. On another level, every country on the planet is now deeply affected by the consequences of economic catastrophe due to the response strategy to defend against the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, both these reasons do not change the fact that extreme social inequality exists and has continued to increasingly worsen globally every decade since the 1980’s.

Key Facts

  • 80% of the world population lives on less than $10 a day;
  • The poorest 40% of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income;
  • The richest 20% accounts for three-quarters of world income;
  • Around 1 in 4 of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted.

 

Key Actions