The world's richest one per cent will own more than the other 99 per cent by next year, Oxfam has warned.
The charity has highlighted growing inequality ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.
A research paper suggests the wealthiest one per cent have seen their share of global assets rise from 44 per cent in 2009 to 48 per cent last year - with an average worth of $US2.7 million ($A2.92 million) each. The figure is on track to exceed 50 per cent this year.
Below the richest fifth, 80 per cent of the world's population own just 5.5 per cent of wealth - an average of $US3851 ($A4166) each.
"The scale of global inequality is quite simply staggering," Oxfam executive director Winnie Byanyima said.
"And despite the issues shooting up the global agenda, the gap between the richest and the rest is widening fast."
Byanyima, who is to co-chair at the Davos World Economic Forum this week, urged leaders to take on "vested interests that stand in the way of a fairer and more prosperous world".
Oxfam has called upon states to tackle tax evasion, improve public services, tax capital rather than labour, and introduce living minimum wages, among other measures, in a bid to ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth.
The 45th World Economic Forum, which starts on Wednesday, will draw a record number of participants this year with more than 300 heads of state and government attending.
Rising inequality will be competing with other global crises including terrorist threats in Europe, the worst post-Cold War stand-off between Russia and the West and renewed fears of financial turmoil.
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