GINI COEFFICIENT
A statistical measure of the degree of inequality. Although this measure can be used with regard
to any statistical data set, it is most commonly referred to in reference to the relative inequality
of personal income or wealth within the population of some particular country or region. A Gini
coefficient of 0 means that there is no inequality whatsoever, while a Gini coefficient of 1 means
that there is the most extreme inequality possible (e.g., one person having everything, and
everybody else having nothing at all).
The global map at the right shows which countries have the
least and the greatest inequality of personal income. The dark blue countries have the least
inequality (with a Gini coefficient of less than 0.25), and the countries in dark red-brown have
the most inequality of incomes (with Gini coefficients greater than 0.60). Here are the specific
Gini values for selected countries:
GINI COEFFICIENTS OF SELECTED COUNTRIES
(For Personal Income) |
| Country |
Gini
Coefficient |
Year |
Comments |
| Sweden |
0.23 |
2009 |
Currently the world’s least
inequality of income. |
| Germany |
0.27 |
2006 |
|
| European Union |
0.31 |
2005 |
|
| Greece |
0.33 |
2005 |
|
| India |
0.368 |
2004 |
|
| Turkey |
0.41 |
2007 |
|
| Venezuela |
0.41 |
2009 |
|
| Russia |
0.423 |
2008 |
|
| Philippines |
0.458 |
2006 |
|
| United States |
0.468
0.463
0.462
0.428
0.403
0.394 |
2009
2007
2000
1990
1980
1970 |
U.S. Census Bureau data. |
| China |
0.47
0.415
0.40 |
2009
2007
2001 |
World Bank figure.
CIA figure.
CIA figure. |
| Nepal |
0.472 |
2008 |
|
| Mexico |
0.482 |
2008 |
|
| Peru |
0.52 |
2008 |
|
| Brazil |
0.567 |
2005 |
|
| Namibia |
0.707 |
2003 |
Currently the world’s greatest
inequality of income. |
Primary source: CIA World Report (2009). For more countries, see also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality#cite_note-4 |
Even in the best of countries (Sweden) the degree of equality of income is really not all
that good. The Gini coefficient values are rising almost everywhere (and in the U.S. and
China especially), which means there is an ever greater concentration of income and wealth in
the world. Europe is still relatively more equal than most of the world because of the long
history of welfare states—which, however, are now in the process of being dismantled as the
world capitalist economic crisis continues to develop. The World Bank says that, in the poorest
countries at least, a Gini value greater than 0.40 is a predictor of future social unrest.
For further information about the Gini coefficient,
including details about its mathematical definition, see the Wikipedia entry at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient