Reducing inequality is very difficult. Only a few countries with high inequality have reduced inequality at all. Between 1985 and 1990, poverty has fallen in all the countries for which data is available except for China. Between 1985 and 1990, poverty has increased in six countries, fallen in four, and remained unchanged in two. Land distribution patterns vary widely in Sub-Saharan Africa but even countries with relatively equal land distribution that pursued ineffective policies have had very low growth.
Available information suggests that poverty has increased.