International distribution of income: 1960–1987

Using recent purchasing power parity-based estimates of national income with intracountry income distribution, this study found the world size distribution of income from 1960 to 1987 to be highly concentrated. In 1987, the wealthiest fifth of mankind received up to thirty-two times the income of the poorest fifth. Per capita income inequality tended to decrease over the twenty-seven year period when China was included in samples and increase when excluded. Of the five third world regions, only East Asia has been closing the per capita income gap with the industrial market countries.