Inequality – Bridging the Divide | United Nations
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Inequality in Today's World: A Complex Mix of Challenges
- Inequality in various forms is a defining issue of our time.
- "Leave no one behind" is the rallying cry of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Total global inequality has declined since the 1990s, but income inequality within countries has risen.
- Inequalities are determined by factors such as gender, age, origin, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, class, and religion.
- Divides in access to online and mobile technologies are emerging, adding to the complexity of inequalities.
- Income inequality between countries has improved due to economic growth in developing countries, but the gap is still considerable.
- Income inequality within countries has worsened, with 71% of the world's population living in countries where inequality has grown.
- Inequality has increased in most developed and middle-income countries, while Latin America and the Caribbean have seen a decline.
- The concentration of wealth at the top has increased, with billionaires' fortunes reaching record levels.
The Impacts and Measurement of Inequality
- Inequality goes beyond income and purchasing power and affects access to basic services, life expectancy, and human rights.
- Inequality of opportunity discourages skills accumulation, economic and social mobility, and depresses economic growth.
- High levels of income and wealth inequality contribute to the rise of nativism and extreme nationalism.
- Climate change, technology, and urbanization pose urgent policy challenges and can exacerbate inequality.
- Cities often have glaring levels of inequality, with pockets of severe deprivation alongside wealth and modern infrastructure.
- Inequality is not inevitable or irreversible, as shown by the income growth of the poorest 40% in many countries.
Inequality as a Defining Issue of Our Time
- Total global inequality has declined since the 1990s, but income inequality within countries has risen.
- Inequalities are determined by factors such as gender, age, origin, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, class, and religion.
- Divides in access to online and mobile technologies are emerging, adding to the complexity of inequalities.
- Income inequality between countries has improved due to economic growth in developing countries, but the gap is still considerable.