Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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Global wealth, currently held by 4.4 billion adults, has increased by 72 per cent since the year 2000 to reach $195 trillion.
The Credit Suisse Research Institute estimates that global wealth will grow by 61 per cent to $315 trillion by 2015, driven by robust economic expansion in the emerging markets. However, unequal wealth distribution is a matter of concern. As the rich-poor gap is growing wider, how fairly is wealth distributed among people? The higher a Gini coefficient the more unequal is the distribution of wealth. A low Gini coefficient indicates a more equal distribution, with 0 corresponding to complete equality, while higher Gini coefficients indicate more unequal distribution, with 1 corresponding to complete inequality. Here's a list of 20 nations from the most equal to the most unequal in terms of distribution of wealth... 1. JapanHousehold wealth in Japan is the second highest at $21 trillion. Gini-Index (%): 54.7
Adult population (million): 100.933
Adult population (%): 2.7
Wealth per adult ($):227,600
Wealth (%):18.3
Image: Japan's jewellery maker Ginza Tanaka's pure gold Santa Claus, valued at 200 million yen ($1.8 mn).
Photographs: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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2. China
China has become the world's fastest-growing economy. Household wealth in China could more than double to $35 trillion by 2015 from $16.5 trillion.
Gini-Index (%): 55.0
Adult population (million): 842.063
Adult population (%): 22.8
Wealth per adult ($):3,885
Wealth (%): 2.6
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Image: A customer at Beijing's biggest gold shop looks at gold rings on display in central Beijing.
Photographs: David Gray/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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3. Spain
It is a developed country with the twelfth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and very high living standards.
Gini-Index (%): 57.0
Adult population (million): 32.165
Adult population (%):0.9
Wealth per adult ($): 86,958
Wealth (%): 2.2
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Image: A woman walks past a shop window in a designer shopping area known for its luxurious shops in central Madrid.
Photographs: Andrea Comas/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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4. South Korea
South Korea is a developed country with a very high standard of living. It is Asia's fourth largest economy and the world's 15th (nominal) or 12th (purchasing power parity) largest economy.
Gini-Index (%): 57.9
Adult population (million): 33.242
Adult population (%):0.9
Wealth per adult ($):41,777
Wealth (%):1.1
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Image: A woman holds a cake for her dog after a dog food cooking class in Seoul.
Photographs: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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5. Italy
Italy has been ranked the world's twenty-third most-developed country and its quality-of-life index has been ranked among the best in the world.
Italy enjoys a very high standard of living, and has a high nominal GDP per capita.
Gini-Index (%): 60.9
Adult population (million): 46.416
Adult population (%):1.3
Wealth per adult ($):122,250
Wealth (%): 4.5
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Image: Maggie, a Jack Russell terrier, peers from a
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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6. Finland
Finland has been ranked as one of the world's most peaceful, competitive and livable countries.
Finland has a highly industrialised mixed economy with a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as France, Germany, Belgium or the UK. Gini-Index (%): 62.1Adult population (million): 3.328
Adult population (%): 0.09
Wealth per adult ($): 37,171
Wealth (%):0.15
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Image: Welcomed by a four-tugboat salute, the new Carnival Spirit arrives at the Port of Miami-Dade in Helsinki.
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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7. Australia
A highly developed country, Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy and has the world's seventh-highest per capita income.
Australia scores high on quality of life, health, education, economic freedom.
Gini-Index (%): 62.2
Adult population (million): 13.690
Adult population (%): 0.4
Wealth per adult ($): 94,712
Wealth (%): 1.0
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Image: A Tarantula Brooch is positioned for display at a pearl exhibition in Sydney.
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best
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8. The Netherlands
The Netherlands has a capitalist market-based economy. Netherlands has been ranked as the 'happiest' country by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Gini-Index (%): 65.0
Adult population (million): 12.046
Adult population (%):0.3
Wealth per adult ($):144,406
Wealth (%):1.4
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Image: A cyclist makes his way over a snow covered bridge in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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9. Taiwan
One of the Four Asian Tigers, Taiwan has transformed into an industrialised developed country.
It is considered an advanced economy by the IMF and as a high-income economy by the World Bank.
Gini-Index (%): 65.5
Adult population (million): 15.476
Adult population (%):0.4
Wealth per adult ($): 105,613
Wealth (%):1.3
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Image: A tourist takes a picture of a whale shark at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Checheng.
Photographs: Joel Boh/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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10. Bangladesh
Bangladesh remains a developing nation. if purchasing power parity (PPP) is taken into account, Bangladesh's economy is the 44th largest in the world at US$257 billion according to the IMF.
Gini-Index (%): 66.0
Adult population (million): 66.483
Adult population (%):1.8
Wealth per adult ($): 2424
Wealth (%): 0.1
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Image: A crowded ferry heads upriver near the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka.
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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11. Germany
Germany has the world's fourth largest economy by nominal GDP and the fifth largest by purchasing power parity.
The country has developed a very high standard of living and a comprehensive system of social security.
Gini-Index (%): 66.7
Adult population (million): 64.810
Adult population (%): 1.8
Wealth per adult ($):109,735
Wealth (%): 5.7
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Image: Tourists take part in a guided tour through the city on segways as they pass the Berlin cathedral in Berlin.
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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12. India
India's wealth could nearly double to $6.4 trillion by 2015. India has become one of the fastest growing major economies.
Gini-Index (%): 66.9
Adult population (million): 570.595
Adult population (%):15.4
Wealth per adult ($):1,989
Wealth (%): 0.9
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Image: Car enthusiasts take part in a vintage car rally in Chandigarh.
Photographs: Ajay Verma/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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13. Vietnam
One of world's fastest growing economies, Vietnam has the highest Global Growth Generators Index among 11 major economies.
Gini-Index (%): 68.2
Adult population (million): 44.025
Adult population (%):1.2
Wealth per adult ($):1,986
Wealth (%):0.1
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Image: Two elephants walk on the street to Nam Giao Esplanade, a sacred place in Vietnam's central city of Hue.
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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14. Canada
Canada is one of the world's wealthiest nations, with a high per-capita income. It is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the G8, and is one of the world's top ten trading nations.
Gini-Index (%): 68.8
Adult population (million): 22.764
Adult population (%): 0.6
Wealth per adult ($):95,606
Wealth (%):1.7
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Image: A jogger runs along the seawall in Stanley Park with the city skyline in the background.
Photographs: Andy Clark/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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15. United Kingdom
The UK is a developed country and has the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and seventh-largest economy by purchasing power parity.
Gini-Index (%): 69.7
Adult population (million): 43.871
Adult population (%): 1.2
Wealth per adult ($): 169,617
Wealth (%): 5.9
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Image: Jessica Wyndham, a trainee specialist in Sotheby's jewellery department, holds a ruby, diamond and emerald brooch by Cartier.
Photographs: Andrew Winning/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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16. Pakistan
With a semi-industrialised economy, it is the 27th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power.
Gini-Index (%): 69.8
Adult population (million): 67.968
Adult population (%):1.8
Wealth per adult ($):2,633
Wealth (%): 0.1
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Image: A jeweller sets stones in a gold pendant at a workshop in Lahore.
Photographs: Mohsin Raza/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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17. Russia
Russia has the world's 11th largest economy by nominal GDP or the 6th largest by purchasing power parity.
Gini-Index (%):69.9
Adult population (million): 107.493
Adult population (%):2.9
Wealth per adult ($):4,140
Wealth (%):0.4
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Image: A Mecerdes Benz studded with crystal stones is seen at the Millionaire Fair of luxury goods in Moscow.
Photographs: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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18. Thailand
Thailand is an emerging economy and considered as a newly industrialised country.
Gini-Index (%):71.0
Adult population (million): 40.160
Adult population (%):1.1
Wealth per adult ($):6,717
Wealth (%):0.2
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Image: A Thai woman displays pearls, the symbol of Phuket, at a pearl factory in Phuket.
Photographs: Reuters.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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19. Turkey
Turkey has the world's 15th largest GDP (PPP) and 17th largest nominal GDP. The country is a founding member of the OECD and the G-20 major economies
Gini-Index (%): 71.8
Adult population (million): 40.391
Adult population (%):1.1
Wealth per adult ($):16,218
Wealth (%):0.5
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Image: Skyscrapers in the city's business district shape the skyline over Gultepe district in Istanbul.
Wealth distribution: Which nations are the best?
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20. France
A member of the G8 group of leading industrialised countries, it is ranked as the world's fifth largest and Europe's second largest economy by nominal GDP.
Gini-Index (%): 73.0
Adult population (million): 44.358
Adult population (%): 1.2
Wealth per adult ($): 114,650
Wealth (%):4.1
Image: The Ferrari P4/5, designed by Pininfarina in Paris.
Photographs: Benoit Tessier/Reuters.
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