Our History
The IncomeWealth Data Center has evolved over four decades to become the world's premier source for cross-national income and wealth data.
Foundation
IncomeWealth was established by a group of pioneering researchers committed to enabling cross-national research on income distribution and economic inequality.
Expansion
The database expanded significantly, adding datasets from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The first comprehensive documentation system was developed.
Wealth Data Initiative
Launched the Wealth Database, complementing income data with comprehensive information on household assets, debts, and net worth across countries.
Digital Transformation
Implemented remote data access systems, online training programs, and enhanced data visualization tools to serve the growing research community.
Global Leadership
Today, IncomeWealth serves thousands of researchers worldwide, maintains data from over 50 countries, and continues to innovate in data harmonization and accessibility.
Key Milestones
- ✓ 1983: First dataset released with 6 countries
- ✓ 1995: Reached 25 participating countries
- ✓ 2005: Launched the Wealth Database
- ✓ 2010: Introduced remote data access
- ✓ 2015: Surpassed 1,000 registered users
- ✓ 2020: Implemented advanced harmonization techniques
- ✓ 2024: Celebrating 40+ years of impact