International Wealth Index

The International Wealth Index (IWI) is the first comparable asset based wealth index covering the complete developing world. It is based on data for over 2.1 million households in 97 low and middle income countries. IWI is a stable and understandable yardstick for comparing the performance of societies with regard to wealth, inequality and poverty.

Computing IWI

To compute the IWI value of a household, information is needed on twelve assets. These assets include seven consumer durables, access to two public services, and three housing characteristics.

Play with IWI online

We provide an online form to quickly compute the IWI index for a household. This is done by filling out a form with questions pertaining to each of the indicators IWI accounts for.

Map visualisations

Our world maps allow the visualization of the International Wealth Index across all lower and middle income countries at a given point in time. This is a key instrument in visualizing regional differences within countries.

Data tables

We provide easy to navigate data tables displaying the IWI indicator information in a grid-like format of rows and columns. Information is available along three dimensions: (i) country, (ii) time, and (iii) choice of indicator(s).

Frequently Asked Questions

We provide answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about IWI on this page. Questions range from accessibility to validity. It is a good starting point before contacting us for more information.

Downloads

We have prepared an SPSS syntax file that contains the formulas for computing IWI, plus instructions on how to prepare the indicators. A free-of-charge registration with GDL is necessary. Registration takes less than 5 minutes.

How to cite us

For the International Wealth Index (IWI), please refer to both the Area Database from which this data is retrieved and the accompanying paper: