GITNUXREPORT 2025

Stratification Statistics

Global wealth highly concentrated among elite, perpetuating socioeconomic stratification.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

In many developing countries, access to clean water is skewed along socioeconomic lines, affecting 1 in 5 children in impoverished households

Statistic 2

58% of urban residents in low-income countries live in informal settlements with limited access to services

Statistic 3

Access to quality healthcare is 3-4 times higher in high-income neighborhoods compared to low-income areas

Statistic 4

Access to internet remains highly stratified, with rural and low-income populations having connectivity rates below 50%

Statistic 5

The average life expectancy in low-income countries is approximately 10 years shorter than in high-income countries

Statistic 6

Maternal mortality rates are disproportionately higher among women of lower socioeconomic status, with some countries reporting rates 5-10 times higher

Statistic 7

Food deserts are predominantly found in low-income urban and rural areas, limiting access to nutritious foods

Statistic 8

Marginalized populations are less likely to be covered by health insurance, resulting in 2-3 times higher out-of-pocket expenses

Statistic 9

Children from the wealthiest 20% of households are five times more likely to attend college than those from the poorest 20%

Statistic 10

Approximately 22% of children worldwide are affected by multidimensional poverty

Statistic 11

Child mortality rates are three times higher in the lowest income quintile than in the highest

Statistic 12

Educational attainment disparities result in a 10-year gap in schooling completion rates between the richest and poorest students

Statistic 13

Globally, only about 45% of children have access to early childhood education, with large disparities based on income level

Statistic 14

Socioeconomic status accounts for nearly 50% of educational achievement gaps

Statistic 15

Educational funding disparities often translate into unequal school quality, with schools in poorer areas receiving 30-50% less funding per student

Statistic 16

Socioeconomic disparities impact childhood brain development, with children in impoverished families showing lower cognitive scores

Statistic 17

Educational attainment gaps persist across generations, with children of low-income families having less access to quality education, perpetuating stratification

Statistic 18

Educational attainment disparities lead to significant income gaps, with tertiary-educated individuals earning up to twice as much as those without a high school diploma

Statistic 19

The unemployment rate among youth (ages 15-24) in low-income countries is often above 20%, significantly higher than in high-income countries

Statistic 20

In many countries, social mobility is declining, with less than 25% of children born into lowest income quintile moving upward by their 30s

Statistic 21

Women earn roughly 20% less than men globally

Statistic 22

The unemployment rate for marginalized racial groups is almost double that of white populations in many countries

Statistic 23

Racial income gaps contribute to the overall economic inequality, with gaps of over $15,000 annually in some countries

Statistic 24

Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, forming only 28% of those employed in science and engineering globally

Statistic 25

The gender pay gap persists, with women earning on average 16% less than men globally

Statistic 26

Labor market segregation results in women spending 20% more hours on unpaid work than men

Statistic 27

The poverty rate among marginalized ethnic groups in the U.S. is nearly double that of the general population

Statistic 28

The global gender gap in political representation is still significant, with women holding approximately 25% of parliamentary seats worldwide

Statistic 29

Approximately 64% of global wealth is owned by the top 10% of the population

Statistic 30

In the United States, the top 1% holds about 32% of the country's wealth

Statistic 31

In urban areas, the income disparity between neighborhoods can be as high as 10:1

Statistic 32

The top 10% of earners in OECD countries earn between 50-70% of total income

Statistic 33

Wealth inequality has increased by 10% in the past decade in several developed nations

Statistic 34

Around 75% of the world's population lives on less than $3.20 per day

Statistic 35

The richest 1% hold over 40% of the world's wealth

Statistic 36

Income inequality in the U.S. has increased by nearly 15% since 1980

Statistic 37

Indigenous populations face poverty rates exceeding 30% in many countries

Statistic 38

Wealth distribution in Brazil shows the top 10% owns over 70% of the country's wealth

Statistic 39

The median household wealth in the U.S. is about $131,000, while the top 1% have median wealth exceeding $4 million

Statistic 40

Income inequality in South Africa is one of the highest in the world, with the top 10% earning over 60% of the total income

Statistic 41

In many countries, the wealthiest 10% can afford over 20 times more healthcare services than the poorest 10%

Statistic 42

Globally, urban poor are 2-3 times more likely to experience food insecurity compared to residents in high-income neighborhoods

Statistic 43

Wealth inequality within countries often correlates with higher rates of social unrest and political instability

Statistic 44

Racial and ethnic wealth gaps in the U.S. mean that Black households have, on average, only about 11% of the wealth of white households

Statistic 45

Access to quality housing is markedly better in affluent neighborhoods, with rent and property prices 4-6 times higher than in low-income areas

Statistic 46

The global average Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, is around 0.4, with 0 being perfect equality and 1 being maximum inequality

Statistic 47

Women’s unpaid labor contributes to the equivalent of trillions of dollars annually in lost economic productivity

Statistic 48

Income inequality is linked to poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of mental health issues and chronic illnesses

Statistic 49

The wealthiest countries have the highest rates of obesity, with disparities often correlating with income levels

Statistic 50

Low-income families spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs, leading to increased risk of homelessness and housing instability

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Key Highlights

Approximately 64% of global wealth is owned by the top 10% of the population
In the United States, the top 1% holds about 32% of the country's wealth
Women earn roughly 20% less than men globally
Children from the wealthiest 20% of households are five times more likely to attend college than those from the poorest 20%
The unemployment rate for marginalized racial groups is almost double that of white populations in many countries
Approximately 22% of children worldwide are affected by multidimensional poverty
In urban areas, the income disparity between neighborhoods can be as high as 10:1
The top 10% of earners in OECD countries earn between 50-70% of total income
Wealth inequality has increased by 10% in the past decade in several developed nations
Around 75% of the world's population lives on less than $3.20 per day
Racial income gaps contribute to the overall economic inequality, with gaps of over $15,000 annually in some countries
Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, forming only 28% of those employed in science and engineering globally
The richest 1% hold over 40% of the world's wealth

Despite owning 64% of global wealth and experiencing persistent inequalities across gender, race, and socioeconomic status, our world remains deeply divided—highlighting the urgent need to understand and address the roots and repercussions of stratification.

Access to Healthcare and Basic Services

In many developing countries, access to clean water is skewed along socioeconomic lines, affecting 1 in 5 children in impoverished households
58% of urban residents in low-income countries live in informal settlements with limited access to services
Access to quality healthcare is 3-4 times higher in high-income neighborhoods compared to low-income areas
Access to internet remains highly stratified, with rural and low-income populations having connectivity rates below 50%
The average life expectancy in low-income countries is approximately 10 years shorter than in high-income countries
Maternal mortality rates are disproportionately higher among women of lower socioeconomic status, with some countries reporting rates 5-10 times higher
Food deserts are predominantly found in low-income urban and rural areas, limiting access to nutritious foods
Marginalized populations are less likely to be covered by health insurance, resulting in 2-3 times higher out-of-pocket expenses

Access to Healthcare and Basic Services Interpretation

These stark inequalities vividly illustrate that in the quest for progress, socioeconomic divide continues to be the greatest barrier, systematically depriving the most vulnerable of basic rights and opportunities.

Child and Education Disparities

Children from the wealthiest 20% of households are five times more likely to attend college than those from the poorest 20%
Approximately 22% of children worldwide are affected by multidimensional poverty
Child mortality rates are three times higher in the lowest income quintile than in the highest
Educational attainment disparities result in a 10-year gap in schooling completion rates between the richest and poorest students
Globally, only about 45% of children have access to early childhood education, with large disparities based on income level
Socioeconomic status accounts for nearly 50% of educational achievement gaps
Educational funding disparities often translate into unequal school quality, with schools in poorer areas receiving 30-50% less funding per student
Socioeconomic disparities impact childhood brain development, with children in impoverished families showing lower cognitive scores
Educational attainment gaps persist across generations, with children of low-income families having less access to quality education, perpetuating stratification

Child and Education Disparities Interpretation

These stark disparities reveal that socioeconomic status not only shapes childhood opportunities and health outcomes but also entrenches intergenerational cycles of inequality, reminding us that educational and developmental equity remains a pressing moral and social imperative.

Employment, Social Mobility, and Economic Opportunities

Educational attainment disparities lead to significant income gaps, with tertiary-educated individuals earning up to twice as much as those without a high school diploma
The unemployment rate among youth (ages 15-24) in low-income countries is often above 20%, significantly higher than in high-income countries
In many countries, social mobility is declining, with less than 25% of children born into lowest income quintile moving upward by their 30s

Employment, Social Mobility, and Economic Opportunities Interpretation

Stratification reveals a sobering truth: education and economic mobility remain elusive privileges for many, widening income gaps and leaving youth in low-income nations disproportionately cut off from the ladder of opportunity.

Gender and Racial Gaps

Women earn roughly 20% less than men globally
The unemployment rate for marginalized racial groups is almost double that of white populations in many countries
Racial income gaps contribute to the overall economic inequality, with gaps of over $15,000 annually in some countries
Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, forming only 28% of those employed in science and engineering globally
The gender pay gap persists, with women earning on average 16% less than men globally
Labor market segregation results in women spending 20% more hours on unpaid work than men
The poverty rate among marginalized ethnic groups in the U.S. is nearly double that of the general population
The global gender gap in political representation is still significant, with women holding approximately 25% of parliamentary seats worldwide

Gender and Racial Gaps Interpretation

These stark disparities highlight a persistent global tapestry of inequality—where gender and race continue to shape access, opportunity, and economic dignity, demanding urgent and comprehensive action to level the playing field.

Wealth Distribution and Inequality

Approximately 64% of global wealth is owned by the top 10% of the population
In the United States, the top 1% holds about 32% of the country's wealth
In urban areas, the income disparity between neighborhoods can be as high as 10:1
The top 10% of earners in OECD countries earn between 50-70% of total income
Wealth inequality has increased by 10% in the past decade in several developed nations
Around 75% of the world's population lives on less than $3.20 per day
The richest 1% hold over 40% of the world's wealth
Income inequality in the U.S. has increased by nearly 15% since 1980
Indigenous populations face poverty rates exceeding 30% in many countries
Wealth distribution in Brazil shows the top 10% owns over 70% of the country's wealth
The median household wealth in the U.S. is about $131,000, while the top 1% have median wealth exceeding $4 million
Income inequality in South Africa is one of the highest in the world, with the top 10% earning over 60% of the total income
In many countries, the wealthiest 10% can afford over 20 times more healthcare services than the poorest 10%
Globally, urban poor are 2-3 times more likely to experience food insecurity compared to residents in high-income neighborhoods
Wealth inequality within countries often correlates with higher rates of social unrest and political instability
Racial and ethnic wealth gaps in the U.S. mean that Black households have, on average, only about 11% of the wealth of white households
Access to quality housing is markedly better in affluent neighborhoods, with rent and property prices 4-6 times higher than in low-income areas
The global average Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, is around 0.4, with 0 being perfect equality and 1 being maximum inequality
Women’s unpaid labor contributes to the equivalent of trillions of dollars annually in lost economic productivity
Income inequality is linked to poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of mental health issues and chronic illnesses
The wealthiest countries have the highest rates of obesity, with disparities often correlating with income levels
Low-income families spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs, leading to increased risk of homelessness and housing instability

Wealth Distribution and Inequality Interpretation

Despite controlling over 64% of global wealth, the top 10% continue to widen the gulf of inequality, with the U.S. top 1% owning about a third of the nation's wealth and a staggering 75% of the world's population subsisting on less than $3.20 daily—an economic imbalance so pronounced that it risks toppling the social fabric, as disparities in urban neighborhoods reach 10:1 and wealth gaps fuel health, housing, and social unrest at home and abroad.

Sources & References

Reference 26
CHILD-ENCYCLOPEDIA
Research Publication(2024)
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