The global impact of income inequality on health by age: an observational study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether the apparent impact of income inequality on health, which has been shown for wealthier nations, is replicated worldwide, and whether the impact varies by age.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
126 countries of the world for which complete data on income inequality and mortality by age and sex were available around the year 2002 (including 94.4% of world human population).


METHODS
Data on mortality were from the World Health Organization and income data were taken from the annual reports of the United Nations Development Programme.


METHODS
Mortality in 5-year age bands for each sex by income inequality and income level.


RESULTS
At ages 15-29 and 25-39 variations in income inequality seem more closely correlated with mortality worldwide than do variations in material wealth. This relation is especially strong among the poorest countries in Africa. Mortality is higher for a given level of overall income in more unequal nations.


CONCLUSIONS
Income inequality seems to have an influence worldwide, especially for younger adults. Social inequality seems to have a universal negative impact on health.
Dorling
Danny
D
Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN. Daniel.dorling@sheffield.ac.uk
Mitchell
Richard
R
Pearce
Jamie
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors