Inequality: A Plea for Global Solidarity
In rural India, Anjali walks miles to attend a school that barely has four walls, let alone teachers or textbooks. Her dream of becoming a doctor feels like a distant star—visible but out of reach—while students in the cities flourish with digital classrooms and resources she can only imagine. Meanwhile, in rural Mississippi, a teenager named Liam tries to complete his homework on a cellphone because his family can’t afford broadband internet.
Every drop of water is precious for Marissa, a young mother in the Navajo Nation, who carefully measures how much her family can use each day. While nearby towns have unlimited access to clean water, Marissa drives for hours to fill containers from a community well, paying more than her urban neighbors for far less. It’s a daily reminder of how inequality shapes lives.
These are not just isolated tales of struggle; they are reflections of the deep and persistent disparities that continue to define our world. Across the globe, these stories—though separated by oceans and continents—are united by a common thread: inequality. Yet, they also remind us of resilience, the human spirit that refuses to give up even when faced with insurmountable odds.
As we approach Human Rights Day on December 10, 2024, it’s a moment for us all to think about the inequalities that still exist in our world. These inequalities hold back so many people from living with the basic dignity and rights they deserve. This year’s Human Rights Day theme, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now,” reminds us that the time to act is now—not tomorrow or someday soon. Let’s take a closer look at the challenges people face around the world and the stories behind these struggles.
The Current Landscape of Global Inequality
In recent years, the fight against inequality has been a mix of progress and setbacks. On one hand, the global economy has faced serious challenges, with growth projections for 2023 and 2024 painting a sobering picture. The World Bank’s 2023 report showed that the global economy was expected to grow by just 1.7% in 2023 and 2.7% in 2024, far below the levels needed to make a real dent in poverty. Even more concerning, economic forecasts were revised downward for almost all advanced economies (95%) and the majority of emerging and developing economies (nearly 70%). This widespread slowdown highlights how interconnected and vulnerable the world’s economies have become. The growth in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), percent is presented below.
Despite these challenges, there have been rays of hope. The World Bank’s Poverty and Inequality Platform revealed that global extreme poverty levels—those living on less than $2.15 a day—have returned to where they were before the pandemic. This is an encouraging sign that some recovery is happening. However, the story is not the same everywhere. Low- and lower-middle-income countries, especially in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, have been hit harder. Inflationary pressures, worsened by events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have slowed progress. Rising costs of essential goods have made it even harder for families in these nations to afford basic needs, setting back efforts to close the inequality gap.
This mix of progress and setbacks reminds us how uneven the recovery from global crises can be. While some countries are finding their footing, others continue to struggle, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to address these inequalities and ensure that no one is left behind.
Tracking Within-Country Inequality: Why It Matters
The World Bank’s efforts to monitor within-country inequality through indicators like the Gini index underscore the critical importance of understanding and addressing inequality. While complete equality is neither achievable nor always desirable—acknowledging that some wage differences reflect effort—there is broad consensus that excessive inequality is detrimental to societies. Here’s why it matters:
- Inequality Slows Down Poverty Reduction
When inequality is high, it’s harder to lift people out of poverty, even when the economy grows. In countries where the gap between the rich and the poor is wider, economic growth doesn’t help the poorest as much. For example, in Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty reduction has been slow not just because growth is sluggish, but also because inequality hasn’t improved. Reducing inequality can double the impact of growth, helping more people escape poverty. - It Reflects Deeper Problems in Opportunity
High inequality often shows that some groups of people don’t have the same chances to succeed. Whether it’s because of their gender, race, family background, or where they were born, these barriers stop people from reaching their potential. This isn’t just unfair—it also means countries are missing out on the talents and contributions of many of their citizens. Worse, these inequalities often carry over to the next generation, making it harder for children in disadvantaged families to break free from the cycle. - It Affects Stability and Society
Inequality doesn’t just show up in numbers—it’s something people feel in their daily lives. When people sense the gap between the rich and the poor is too wide, it can lead to frustration and unrest, like what we saw during the Arab Spring. On the other hand, countries with lower inequality tend to have more stable societies where people trust each other and feel they have a say in decisions. High inequality can even discourage poorer people from voting while giving wealthier groups more influence in politics.
The 2024 World Inequality Database reveals striking disparities in income, wealth, and public spending across the globe. Income inequality within countries remains severe; in South Africa, the richest 10% capture 65% of national income, while in Yemen, the top 10% earn 59.5%. Poorer nations bear a significant burden from debt payments, with some allocating over 40% of revenue to servicing interest, often at the expense of essential services like education and healthcare. In contrast, wealthier nations spend up to 13% of their national income on social protection, compared to just 1.5% among the poorest 40%. These gaps highlight the systemic inequalities that persist globally, limiting opportunities for growth and development in vulnerable regions.
Income Disparities: A Closer Look
Income inequality continues to be a major concern across the globe, as highlighted by the extensive data provided by the World Inequality Database (WID). This resource, developed by the World Inequality Lab in collaboration with global researchers, offers the most comprehensive insight into the historical trends and current state of economic inequality.
According to the World Inequality Report, the richest 1% of the global population captured 20.6% of total income in 2020, marking an increase of 2.8 percentage points since 1980. This means that just 1 in 100 individuals earns over one-fifth of all income generated globally—a significant concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Even more striking, the wealthiest 0.1%—a fraction of the global elite—claimed 8.59% of global income in 2020, an increase of 1.98 percentage points since 1980.
This growing income disparity highlights a broader trend of rising inequality. Over the past four decades, income growth has disproportionately favored the top earners, leaving the bottom 50% struggling to keep pace. In regions like the Middle East, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, these disparities are even more pronounced, further underscoring the uneven distribution of economic gains.
The growing gap between the ultra-rich and the rest of them is more than just a statistic—it’s a reality shaping the way we live, work, and interact as a society. Their money isn’t just sitting in the bank—it’s growing faster through investments and higher returns. This means the rich are getting richer at a pace most people simply can’t match.
To put it in perspective, the top 1% of the global population owns 76% of all wealth, while the bottom half of the population has just 2%. For many, this wealth gap limits access to good schools, quality healthcare, stable housing, and other basic opportunities to get ahead. It’s like running a race where some people start miles ahead, while others are stuck at the starting line.
The effects don’t stop there. When wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, it often translates to power. Those with more money can influence policies and decisions that shape entire economies, often to protect their interests. This can leave others—especially those with less wealth—feeling unheard and unsupported. For example, tax systems or housing regulations might favor the wealthy while doing little to help struggling families.
On a larger scale, this imbalance can create frustration and distrust in governments and institutions. When people see the system working for a select few, it’s easy to feel disheartened or even angry. This division can strain social relationships and even lead to unrest, as people demand fairer opportunities and a more level playing field.
The good news is that this isn’t an unfixable problem. Governments and communities can take action to ensure everyone has a fair shot. Policies like fair taxation, better access to public services, and programs that help people build wealth, like affordable housing or education grants, can make a big difference. The goal isn’t to make everyone equal—it’s to ensure that no one is left too far behind. After all, a society that works for everyone is stronger, more stable, and better for us all.
Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Inequalities: Persistent Barriers to Equality
The latest Human Development Report 2023-2024 from the United Nations Development Programme highlights how these inequalities persist and are actually getting worse. What’s more, growing political tensions are making these divides even deeper.
Gender inequality is still a major hurdle blocking the path to true equality worldwide. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) provides a comprehensive look at gender-based disparities worldwide, focusing on areas such as health, education, economic participation, and political representation. The report highlights how inequality between men and women varies significantly across countries and regions, with some nations making substantial progress while others continue to struggle.
One of the starkest measures of gender inequality is maternal mortality. Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with countries like South Sudan and Chad among the most affected. In contrast, countries such as Norway and Sweden report some of the lowest maternal mortality rates, showcasing how access to quality healthcare can dramatically reduce risks for women. Adolescent birth rates are another indicator of inequality. Countries like Niger and Bangladesh see high rates of teenage pregnancies, often tied to limited access to education and healthcare for young women.
Women’s participation in the labor force continues to lag behind men’s, particularly in regions like the Middle East and North Africa. For example, in Yemen, only a small fraction of women are part of the formal workforce compared to men. In contrast, countries like Iceland and New Zealand have made strides in reducing the gender gap in employment through supportive policies such as subsidized childcare and parental leave.
Wage gaps remain significant in many countries. For instance, in India and Nigeria, women earn significantly less than men for the same type of work, reflecting both systemic discrimination and cultural norms that undervalue women’s contributions.
Gender disparities in education persist, particularly in lower-income countries. In nations like Afghanistan and Somalia, cultural and economic barriers prevent many girls from completing primary or secondary education. On the other hand, countries such as Finland and Canada have achieved near parity in educational attainment, empowering women to participate fully in their economies and societies.
Women’s representation in political decision-making remains uneven globally. Countries such as Rwanda, where women hold over 60% of parliamentary seats, serve as leading examples of gender-inclusive governance. In contrast, countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have far fewer women in leadership roles, highlighting the need for systemic changes to promote political equity.
Regional Disparities: A Global Perspective
Regional inequalities are a reality we see all around the world, and they affect people’s lives in very real ways.
In Africa, many countries, especially in Sub-Saharan regions, are struggling with high debt and food insecurity. These challenges make it harder for families to put food on the table and for governments to invest in essential services like healthcare and education. The World Bank has pointed out the need for urgent action to help these nations stabilize their economies and support their people.
In Asia, we see a different kind of disparity. Cities like Mumbai have risen to prominence, becoming the new billionaire capitals of the region. With 92 billionaires, Mumbai now surpasses Beijing, highlighting the concentration of wealth in specific areas. start-up boom and rising foreign investments have created more opportunities for wealth, making it a hub for entrepreneurs and businesses to flourish. While this reflects growing economic opportunities in some parts, it also shows the stark divide between the very rich and the rest of the population.
These examples remind us that inequality takes many forms, whether it’s a lack of basic resources or the unequal distribution of wealth within booming economies. Addressing these gaps requires focused policies and collaboration, so everyone, no matter where they live, has a chance to thrive.
The Role of Policy and International Cooperation
Tackling global inequalities isn’t something any single country can do alone—it requires strong policies and collaboration across the world. Without these concerted efforts, we risk what experts are calling a “lost decade” for development, where progress slows or even reverses for millions of people. This means governments need to take bold steps, from improving trade policies to restructuring national debts, so struggling countries can invest in critical areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Equally important is international cooperation on climate initiatives, as the most vulnerable populations are often the hardest hit by climate-related disasters.
The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a clear path forward. It’s a global action plan designed to ensure that no one is left behind, outlining specific goals and policies to address inequalities at every level—local, national, and international. For example, by investing in programs that improve access to education for girls, building fairer labor laws, or ensuring rural communities have access to clean water, this agenda strives to create a more equitable world.
Countries like Ghana have integrated SDG 10 into their national development plans. The country has undertaken comprehensive planning to ensure that its policies and programs address various forms of inequality, such as income disparity, access to education, and healthcare services. This alignment is detailed in Ghana’s Voluntary National Review reports, which assess progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
The government has implemented policies aimed at empowering marginalized groups, promoting social inclusion, and ensuring equitable resource distribution. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to create a more inclusive society where all citizens have equal opportunities.
Ghana’s approach to achieving SDG 10 involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, the private sector, and international partners. This inclusive strategy ensures that diverse perspectives are considered in policy formulation and implementation. The country has established mechanisms to monitor progress toward reducing inequalities, regularly publishing reports that highlight achievements and identify areas needing improvement. These reports serve as tools for accountability and continuous improvement.
Human Rights Day 2024: A Call to Action
As we observe Human Rights Day on December 10, it’s a reminder that human rights aren’t just ideals—they’re powerful tools for change. They help prevent injustice, protect the vulnerable, and transform lives for the better. The fight against inequality is deeply connected to standing up for these rights, ensuring that everyone has the chance to live with dignity and opportunity.
Inequality might seem like a vast, immovable force, but history has shown us that change begins with collective action. It’s in the small choices we make, the voices we raise, and the actions we take every single day. From ensuring fair opportunities for education and healthcare to standing up against discrimination in our communities, each step we take brings us closer to a fairer world.
While we celebrate the progress made, it’s also a moment to acknowledge the work still ahead. This isn’t just about policies or programs—it’s about people. It’s about you and me deciding to care, to act, and to insist that everyone deserves a chance to live with dignity. Whether it’s mentoring a young person, supporting inclusive businesses, or simply amplifying the voices of the marginalized, our actions ripple far beyond what we see.
Let’s not wait for someone else to take the lead. Let’s start where we are, with what we have, and commit to building a world where equality isn’t just a goal—it’s the way we live. Together, we can make it happen. The time to act is not tomorrow; it’s now. Will you join the movement?
-Editorial Team
