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    Three Charts That Show The Seriousness Of Income Inequality

    And one table that suggests a few things we can do about it

    World Economic Forum
    by World Economic Forum

    Community Brand Publisher

    Income inequality is the greatest challenge of the future

    This year, income inequality tops the World Economic Forum's list of future trends and issues. The gap between rich and poor is a global problem — as the world's rich continue to accumulate wealth at record rates, the rest are struggling.

    Less than 1% of the world's population controls 41% of its wealth.

    World Economic Forum "Outlook on the Global Agenda"

    It gets even worse: Less than 10% of the population (8.4%, to be exact), controls a staggering 83.3% of the wealth.

    Not only is this just not fair, it is tied to some serious global issues. In both developed and developing countries, income inequality is linked to poverty, environmental degradation, persistent unemployment, political instability, violence and conflict.

    And this gap between rich and poor has only gotten worse.

    World Economic Forum "Outlook on the Global Agenda"

    In the past 25 years, the average income of the top 0.1% of the population has increased 20 times compared to that of the average citizen.

    It's a world-wide problem — all regions will be affected in 2015.

    World Economic Forum "Outlook on the Global Agenda"

    Ignoring the issue can mean reduced economic growth, weakened social cohesion and security, encouraged inequality, and undermined democracies.

    Luckily, surveys suggest that people are increasingly aware of the problem. According to a 2014 Pew Global Attitudes Survey, 90% of respondents in the seven Sub-Saharan African nations see income inequality as a serious issue, as do 80% of respondents in the United States.

    Improved education, tax policy and redistribution are three of the top solutions to income inequality.

    World Economic Forum "Outlook on the Global Agenda"

    The wealth gap is a serious, pervasive issue and one that is not easily addressed. Large-scale solutions will require stronger national institutions, adequate resources, informed and responsive leadership, improved policy making and concerted actions by both business and government.

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