Tables on Global Distribution of Income and Economic Activity

Table 1:

Global income distribution, 1960–91.

YearShare of global income going toRatio of Richest
to Poorest
Richest 20%Poorest 20%
196070.2%2.3%30:1
197073.9%2.3%32:1
198076.3%1.7%45:1
198982.7%1.4%59:1
199185.0%1.4%61:1
Source: UNDP 1992, p. 34; 1994, p. 35.

Table 2:

Distribution of Economic Activity
(percentage of world total)

Economic Activity Poorest 20% Richest 20%
1960-70 1991 1991
Global GNP 2.3% 1.4% 84%
Global trade 1.3% 0.9% 84.2%
Global domestic savings 3.5% 0.7% 85.5%
Global domestic Investment 3.5% 0.9% 85.0%
Source: Derived from Human Development Report 1994, UNDP, Figure 4.3
and Human Development Report 1993, UNDP, Table 2.1