Vanuatu Income Share Top 10%

Vanuatu’s income share held by the top 10% of earners was recorded at 24.70% in 2019, marking a decline from 29.10% in 2010, the highest level observed during the available two-year coverage period. This reduction suggests a modest shift toward a more equitable income distribution over the nine-year span. The 2019 figure aligns Vanuatu with peer nations such as Korea and the United Kingdom, both also at 24.70%, while placing it just below France and Malta at 24.80%. The 2010 peak indicates a period of relatively concentrated income among the highest earners, whereas the 2019 trough reflects a loosening of that concentration, albeit within a narrow range. Given the limited data points, the trend implies a recent move toward reduced income inequality, but the short coverage period restricts definitive conclusions about long-term dynamics. Future changes in economic policy, employment structure, or external shocks could alter this trajectory, particularly in a small island economy highly sensitive to global and climatic fluctuations.