{"id":197002,"date":"2025-01-09T11:56:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T16:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=197002"},"modified":"2025-08-08T14:46:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T18:46:18","slug":"economic-inequality-seen-as-major-challenge-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2025\/01\/09\/economic-inequality-seen-as-major-challenge-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Economic Inequality Seen as Major Challenge Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Pew Research Center analysis focuses on public opinion of inequality and its contributing factors in 36 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East-North Africa region, North America and sub-Saharan Africa. The report also explores views of children\u2019s financial futures and the economic system reform in each country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197052\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f2f2ee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f2f2ee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" height=\"470\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?w=640\" alt=\"A map of ountries included in this report\" class=\"wp-image-197052 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=300,220 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=768,564 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=1024,752 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=551,405 551w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=200,147 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=260,191 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=310,228 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=420,308 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=640,470 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=740,543 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=160,118 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_hwdt_01.png?resize=320,235 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For non-U.S. data, this report draws on nationally representative surveys of 41,503 adults conducted from Jan. 5 to May 22, 2024. All surveys were conducted over the phone with adults in Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Surveys were conducted face-to-face in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey. In Australia, we used a mixed-mode probability-based online panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the United States, we surveyed 3,600 adults from April 1 to April 7, 2024. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/our-methods\/u-s-surveys\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the report, we analyze respondents\u2019 attitudes based on where they place themselves on an ideological scale. We asked about political ideology using several slightly different scales and categorized people as being on the ideological left, center or right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In most countries, we asked people to place themselves on a scale ranging from \u201cExtreme left\u201d to \u201cExtreme right.\u201d The question was asked this way in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Australia, the scale ranged from \u201cLeft\u201d to \u201cRight.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, ideology was measured on a scale from \u201cExtremely progressive\u201d to \u201cExtremely conservative.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the U.S., ideology is defined as conservative (right), moderate (center) and liberal (left).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ideology was not asked about in Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka or Tunisia.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To compare educational groups across countries, we standardize education levels based on the UN\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/b\/xnRGb2i8\/prc-global-attitudes\">International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prior to 2024, combined totals were based on rounded topline figures. For all reports beginning in 2024, totals are based on unrounded topline figures, so combined totals might be different than in previous years. Refer to the 2024 topline to see our new rounding procedures applied to past years\u2019 data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_topline.pdf\">questions used<\/a> for the report, along with responses, and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2025\/01\/09\/methodology-inequality\/\">the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197059\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e3e4d9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e3e4d9;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"416\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?w=310\" alt=\"A set of two bar charts showing that Concerns about economic inequality are widespread around the world and most say political influence of the rich is a major cause\" class=\"wp-image-197059 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=224,300 224w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=302,405 302w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=200,268 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=260,349 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=310,416 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=420,564 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=160,215 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_01.png?resize=320,429 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new Pew Research Center survey of 36 nations finds widespread public concern about economic inequality. And when asked what leads to this inequality, most people across the countries surveyed point to the intersection of wealth and politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key findings of the survey include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A median of <strong>54% of adults across the nations surveyed say the gap between the rich and the poor is a very big problem<\/strong> in their country. Another 30% say it is a moderately big problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A median of <strong>60% believe that rich people having too much political influence<\/strong> contributes a great deal toward economic inequality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These views are <strong>especially<\/strong> <strong>common among people on the ideological left,<\/strong> though many on the right agree. Ideological divisions are particularly large in the United States.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-callout is-style-300-wide has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-a-median\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">What is a median?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout this report, median scores are used to help readers see overall patterns in the data. The median percentage is the middle number in a list of all percentages sorted from highest to lowest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey, conducted in spring 2024, also finds deep global anxieties about the economic future and a strong desire for economic reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A median of <strong>57% of adults across the nations polled expect children in their country to be worse off financially than their parents <\/strong>when they grow up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197058\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d1d7d6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d1d7d6;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"814\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?w=310\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that Globally, most think children will be worse off financially than their parents \" class=\"wp-image-197058 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=114,300 114w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=390,1024 390w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=585,1536 585w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=154,405 154w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=200,525 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=260,683 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=310,814 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=420,1103 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=122,320 122w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_02.png?resize=244,640 244w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This view is particularly widespread in several high-income nations, including Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom and the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the most part, this pessimistic view about the economic future is shared by younger and older adults alike, as well as by people with higher and lower incomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, in several countries, the public is more optimistic than pessimistic about the financial prospects of the next generation. These include a few South Asian and Southeast Asian nations: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And there is modest optimism in some Latin American nations, too. About half of those surveyed in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico think today\u2019s children will be better off than their parents, while around four-in-ten or more say they will be worse off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many countries, there is more economic pessimism today than before the COVID-19 pandemic \u2013 which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/publication\/wdr2022\/brief\/chapter-1-introduction-the-economic-impacts-of-the-covid-19-crisis\">hurt many people economically<\/a>. In 15 of 31 countries where trends are available, the share of the public who thinks children will be worse off financially than their parents is higher today than in pre-pandemic surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Read more: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2025\/01\/09\/views-of-childrens-financial-future\/\"><em>The next generation\u2019s financial future<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197057\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dce0d6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dce0d6;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"814\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?w=420\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that In most countries surveyed, majorities say economic system needs major changes or complete reform\" class=\"wp-image-197057 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=155,300 155w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=768,1488 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=528,1024 528w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=793,1536 793w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=209,405 209w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=200,388 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=260,504 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=310,601 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=420,814 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=640,1240 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=740,1434 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=160,310 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_03.png?resize=320,620 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Majorities in 33 of 36 nations also think their country\u2019s economic system needs major changes or complete reform.<\/strong> People in middle-income nations in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East-North Africa region are especially likely to want this degree of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, people in many wealthier countries want change, too. At least six-in-ten adults in most of the European nations surveyed want major economic changes or complete reform; 66% share this view in the U.S.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In almost every country polled, people who see economic inequality as a very big problem are significantly more likely than others to want major changes or complete economic reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2025\/01\/09\/support-for-changing-the-current-economic-system\/\">Changing the current economic system<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;perceived-causes-of-economic-inequality&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"perceived-causes-of-economic-inequality\">Perceived causes of economic inequality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What causes economic inequality? In our list of six potential factors, <strong>the strong connection between money and politics<\/strong> resonates most with respondents, topping the list in 31 of 36 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197056\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dbdfd6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dbdfd6;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"468\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?w=420\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that Political influence of the rich seen as top contributor to economic inequality\" class=\"wp-image-197056 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=269,300 269w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=768,856 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=363,405 363w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=200,223 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=260,290 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=310,345 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=420,468 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=640,713 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=740,825 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=160,178 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_04.png?resize=320,357 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, more than eight-in-ten adults say that rich people having too much influence over politics contributes to economic inequality either a great deal (60% at the median) or a fair amount (26%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But respondents see other factors as important, too. Majorities across the countries surveyed believe problems with the education system add to inequality in their nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many also attribute inequality to some people working harder than others or some being born with more opportunities. Smaller but still notable shares cite other factors, including robots and computers doing work previously done by humans, and discrimination against racial or ethnic minorities. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-callout has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"economic-anxiety-during-a-global-election-year\">Economic anxiety during a global election year<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voters in more than 60 countries went to the polls in 2024. In many of these countries \u2013 including France, Japan, South Africa, the UK and the U.S. \u2013 incumbents lost or suffered major electoral setbacks. Economic concerns played a key role in these elections. For more, read our data essay: <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2024\/12\/11\/global-elections-in-2024-what-we-learned-in-a-year-of-political-disruption\/\">\u201cGlobal Elections in 2024: What We Learned in a Year of Political Disruption.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Read more: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2025\/01\/09\/factors-seen-as-contributing-to-economic-inequality\/\"><em>Factors seen as contributing to economic inequality<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;views-of-other-forms-of-inequality&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"views-of-other-forms-of-inequality\">Views of other forms of inequality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly a decade and a half after the <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/6117696\/occupy-wall-street-10-years-later\/\">Occupy Wall Street protests<\/a> in the U.S. \u2013 which coincided with similar movements in other countries \u2013 economic inequality <a href=\"https:\/\/wir2022.wid.world\/executive-summary\/\">remains the reality<\/a> in many nations. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197055\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dcdfd9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dcdfd9;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"396\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?w=420\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that the Gap between rich and poor is among several forms of inequality seen as problematic across 36 countries\" class=\"wp-image-197055 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=300,283 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=768,724 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=430,405 430w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=200,189 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=260,245 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=310,292 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=420,396 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=640,603 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=740,698 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=160,151 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_05.png?resize=320,302 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And as our survey highlights, this is a matter of strong public concern. More than eight-in-ten adults across the surveyed countries see the gap between rich and poor as a very or moderately big problem in their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there\u2019s concern about other forms of inequality as well. Roughly two-thirds say discrimination against people based on their race or ethnicity is a very or moderately big problem where they live, while about six-in-ten say this about gender inequality. And more than half describe discrimination against people based on their religion as a big problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concerns about these issues are often tied to respondents\u2019 demographic characteristics, background and experiences. For example, in some nations, people with lower incomes are especially worried about economic inequality; racial and ethnic minorities are more concerned about racial and ethnic discrimination; women are more concerned about gender inequality; and people who prioritize religion are more likely to see religious discrimination as a very big problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2025\/01\/09\/global-perceptions-of-inequality-and-discrimination\/\">Global perceptions of different types of inequality<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;ideological-differences-in-views-of-economic-inequality&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ideological-differences-in-views-of-economic-inequality\">Ideological differences in views of economic inequality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197054\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f1f0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f1f0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"614\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?w=420\" alt=\"A dot plot showing that People on the ideological left more likely than those on the right to see economic inequality as a problem\" class=\"wp-image-197054 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=205,300 205w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=768,1123 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=700,1024 700w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=277,405 277w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=200,292 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=260,380 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=310,453 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=420,614 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=640,936 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=740,1082 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=160,234 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_06.png?resize=320,468 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On several questions in this survey, opinions vary significantly by political ideology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, while concerns about inequality are common across the ideological spectrum, in many countries people who place themselves on the left are especially likely to say the gap between rich and poor is a very big problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those on the left are also particularly likely to see racial and ethnic discrimination and gender inequality as very big problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the same pattern appears when it comes to the perceived causes of inequality. People on the left are more likely than those on the right to cite the political influence of the rich, racial discrimination, and the fact that some are born with more opportunities than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the largest ideological divisions in the survey are in the U.S. For example, 76% of U.S. liberals say economic inequality is a very big problem in their country, compared with just 30% of conservatives. This 46 percentage point gap is the largest left-right differences across the countries surveyed. <em>(The survey was conducted prior to the November 2024 U.S. presidential election.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;views-of-inequality-in-middle-and-high-income-nations&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"views-of-inequality-in-middle-and-high-income-nations\">Views of inequality in middle- and high-income nations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=197053\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dce0dc\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dce0dc;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"520\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?w=310\" alt=\"A bar chart showing How people in middle- and high-income nations view economic inequality\" class=\"wp-image-197053 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=179,300 179w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=610,1024 610w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=241,405 241w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=200,335 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=260,436 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=310,520 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=420,705 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=160,268 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/01\/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_0_07.png?resize=320,537 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey finds important differences between middle- and high-income nations in attitudes about income inequality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(We surveyed 18 middle-income countries and 18 high-income countries. Read <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2025\/01\/09\/appendix-a-economic-categorization-of-high-and-middle-income-countries\/\"><em>Appendix A<\/em><\/a><em> for a classification of these nations.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While concerns about economic inequality are widespread in all the countries surveyed, people in middle-income nations are especially likely to describe it as a very big problem. They are also more likely to say that the rich having too much political influence is a major cause of inequality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But when it comes to views about the economic future, people in middle-income nations are somewhat more positive. A median of 44% of adults in middle-income nations believe that when children in their country grow up, they will be financially better off than their parents. A median of just 26% in wealthier nations express this view. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Across 36 countries, a median of 54% say the gap between the rich and poor is a very big problem in their nation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":648,"featured_media":197212,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","sub_headline":"Most say rich people\u2019s political influence is a big contributing 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