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Income inequality in Africa, 1990–2019: Measurement, patterns, determinants

Author

Listed:
  • Lucas Chancel

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, WIL - World Inequality Lab)

  • Denis Cogneau

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, WIL - World Inequality Lab, LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Amory Gethin

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, WIL - World Inequality Lab)

  • Alix Myczkowski

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, WIL - World Inequality Lab)

  • Anne-Sophie Robilliard

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, WIL - World Inequality Lab, LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This article estimates the evolution of income inequality in Africa from 1990 to 2019 by combining surveys, tax data, and national accounts. Inequality in Africa is very high: the regional top 10% income share nears 55%, on par with regions characterized by extreme inequality, such as Latin America and India. Most of continent-wide income inequality comes from the within-country component rather than from average income differences between countries. Inequality is highest in Southern Africa and lowest in Northern and Western Africa. It remained fairly stable from 1990 to 2019, with the exception of Southern Africa, where it increased significantly. Among historical determinants, this geographical pattern seems to reveal the long shadow of settler colonialism, at least in Sub-Saharan Africa; the spread of Islam stands out as another robust correlate. The poor quality of the raw data calls for great caution, in particular when analyzing country-level dynamics.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucas Chancel & Denis Cogneau & Amory Gethin & Alix Myczkowski & Anne-Sophie Robilliard, 2023. "Income inequality in Africa, 1990–2019: Measurement, patterns, determinants," Post-Print halshs-03936548, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03936548
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106162
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    Cited by:

    1. Katy Bergstrom & William Dodds & Nicholas Lacoste & Juan Rios, 2025. "Estimating the Welfare Cost of Labor Supply Frictions," Working Papers 2503, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    2. Haiyuan Wan & Yangcheng Yu, 2023. "Correction of China's income inequality for missing top incomes," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1769-1791, August.
    3. Florent Bresson, 2023. "Bipolarization in ten Sub-Saharan African countries," Revue d’économie du développement, De Boeck Université, vol. 35(3), pages 23-28.
    4. Raymond Elikplim Kofinti & Damiano Kulundu Manda & Martine Odhiambo Oleche & Germano Mwabu, 2025. "The Nexus Between Consumption Inequality and Multidimensional Poverty in Ghana," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 176(2), pages 695-732, January.
    5. Ellen Hillbom & Jutta Bolt & Michiel de Haas & Federico Tadei, 2024. "Income inequality and export‐oriented commercialization in colonial Africa: Evidence from six countries," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 77(3), pages 975-1004, August.
    6. Yanga Nontu & Lelethu Mdoda & Bonguyise Mzwandile Dumisa & Nyarai Margaret Mujuru & Nkosingimele Ndwandwe & Lungile Sivuyile Gidi & Majezwa Xaba, 2024. "Empowering Rural Food Security in the Eastern Cape Province: Exploring the Role and Determinants of Family Food Gardens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-27, August.
    7. Ofori, Isaac K., 2024. "Frontier Technology Readiness, Democracy, and Income Inequality in Africa," EconStor Preprints 298788, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    8. Martin Wittenberg & Murray Leibbrandt, 2023. "Investigating inequality trends in Africa: ACEIR research and the WIID," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-102, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. Aladejare, Samson Adeniyi, 2025. "The role of natural resource wealth and national-level economic forces in energy poverty intensity in African economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    10. Matthew Fisher-Post & Amory Gethin, 2023. "Government Redistribution and Development Global Estimates of Tax and Transfer Progressivity 1980-2019," World Inequality Lab Working Papers halshs-04423529, HAL.

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