Income/Wages
Share of Income Of the Richest One Percent by Country 2025
Share of National Income Held by the Richest 1%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
The United Nations Development Programme has compiled a list measuring the income of the richest one percent in various countries, calculated before taxes and transfers. In the United States, the richest 1% holds 22.5% of income, with an entry threshold of $5.1 million, encompassing about 0.29 million people. Monaco follows with a 14.9% income share, requiring a minimum net worth of $12.4 million to be in the top 1%.
In Switzerland, the top 1% earns more than $6.6 million (5.9 million Swiss francs), holding 10.6% of the country’s income. New Zealand’s top 1%, about 38,000 people, earn over $5.2 million, with an income share of 8.7%. Australia has seen a rise in the income share of its wealthiest since the 1980s, now at 9.1%, with a $5.5 million threshold for the top 1%.
Ireland’s top 1%, mainly managers and professionals, earn at least $4.3 million, holding 11.3% of income. In France, around 7 million people qualify for the top 1% with earnings of $3.5 million or more, accounting for an 11.2% income share. Hong Kong has a significant proportion of wealthy individuals, with one in every person worth at least $5 million. To be in Hong Kong’s top 1%, an income of $3.4 million is required, contributing to China’s total income share of 13.9%.
In the United Kingdom, around 263,000 people fall into the top 1%, earning a minimum of $3.3 million, and holding 12.6% of the country’s income.
