Between 2010 and 2022, Brazil's data on the degree of inequality in wealth distribution based on the Gini coefficient reached 52.9. That year, Brazil was deemed the most unequal country in Latin America. Prior to 2010, wealth distribution in Brazil had shown signs of improvement, with the Gini coefficient decreasing in the previous three reporting periods.

The Gini coefficient measures the deviation of the distribution of income (or consumption) among individuals or households in a given country from a perfectly equal distribution. A value of 0 represents absolute equality, whereas 100 would be the highest possible degree of inequality.

Based on the degree of inequality in income distribution measured by the Gini coefficient, Brazil was the most unequal country in Latin America as of 2022. Brazil's Gini coefficient amounted to 52.9. Dominican Republic recorded the lowest Gini coefficient at 38.5, even below Uruguay and Chile, which are some of the countries with the highest human development indexes in Latin America.

The Gini coefficient explained The Gini coefficient measures the deviation of the distribution of income among individuals or households in a given country from a perfectly equal distribution. A value of 0 represents absolute equality, whereas 100 would be the highest possible degree of inequality. This measurement reflects the degree of wealth inequality at a certain moment in time, though it may fail to capture how average levels of income improve or worsen over time.

What affects the Gini coefficient in Latin America? Latin America, as other developing regions in the world, generally records high rates of inequality, with a Gini coefficient ranging between 38 and 54 points according to the latest available data from the reporting period 2010-2021. According to the Human Development Report, wealth redistribution by means of tax transfers improves Latin America's Gini coefficient to a lesser degree than it does in advanced economies. Wider access to education and health services, on the other hand, have been proven to have a greater direct effect in improving Gini coefficient measurements in the region.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Bahia data was reported at 0.599 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.548 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Bahia data is updated yearly, averaging 0.574 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.599 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.548 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Bahia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data was reported at 0.521 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.524 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data is updated yearly, averaging 0.522 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.524 % in 2016 and a record low of 0.521 % in 2017. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

In 2023, the gini coefficient for urban areas in Brazil did not change in comparison to the previous observation. The gini coefficient for urban areas remained at 0.51 points. For more insights about the gini coefficient for urban areas consider different countries: In 2023, in comparison to Brazil, the gini coefficient in Costa Rica was lower, while it was higher in Colombia.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Ceará data was reported at 0.560 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.553 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Ceará data is updated yearly, averaging 0.556 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.560 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.553 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Ceará data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

The gini coefficient for rural areas in Brazil decreased by 0.02 points (-4.17 percent) in 2023 in comparison to the previous observation.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Central West: Mato Grosso data was reported at 0.469 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.457 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Central West: Mato Grosso data is updated yearly, averaging 0.463 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.469 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.457 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Central West: Mato Grosso data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Southeast: Minas Gerais data was reported at 0.506 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.504 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Southeast: Minas Gerais data is updated yearly, averaging 0.505 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.506 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.504 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Southeast: Minas Gerais data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Paraíba data was reported at 0.563 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.540 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Paraíba data is updated yearly, averaging 0.551 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.563 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.540 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Paraíba data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: North: Amazonas data was reported at 0.604 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.572 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: North: Amazonas data is updated yearly, averaging 0.588 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.604 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.572 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: North: Amazonas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Alagoas data was reported at 0.530 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.526 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Alagoas data is updated yearly, averaging 0.528 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.530 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.526 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Household Income: per Capita: Northeast: Alagoas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF003: Gini Coefficient: Household Income: by Region.

Income InequalityThe level of income inequality among households in a county can be measured using the Gini index. A Gini index varies between zero and one. A value of one indicates perfect inequality, where only one household in the county has any income. A value of zero indicates perfect equality, where all households in the county have equal income.The United States, as a country, has a Gini Index of 0.47 for this time period. For comparision in this map, the purple counties have greater income inequality, while orange counties have less inequality of incomes. For reference, Brazil has an index of 0.58 (relatively high inequality) and Denmark has an index of 0.24 (relatively low inequality).The 5-year Gini index for the U.S. was 0.4695 in 2007-2011 and 0.467 in 2006-2010. Appalachian Regional Commission, September 2013Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 5-Year American Community Survey, 2006-2010 & 2007-2011

The gini coefficient for rural areas in Peru increased by 0.01 points (+2.63 percent) compared to the previous observation. In total, the gini coefficient amounted to 0.39 points in 2023. This increase was preceded by a declining gini coefficient.For more insights about the gini coefficient for rural areas consider different countries: In 2023, in comparison to Peru, the gini coefficient in Brazil was higher, while it was lower in the Dominican Republic.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: Central West: Mato Grosso do Sul data was reported at 0.480 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.470 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: Central West: Mato Grosso do Sul data is updated yearly, averaging 0.475 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.480 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.470 % in 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: Central West: Mato Grosso do Sul data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF002: Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: by Region and State.

Based on the degree of inequality in wealth distribution measured by the Gini coefficient, income inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean decreased significantly between 2002 and 2012, falling from a record of 52.8 index points to 47. However, from 2012 onwards the index stagnated above 46 points, which implies that inequality remains high in the region. In 2018, Brazil ranked as the Latin American country with the largest income inequality.

The Gini coefficient measures the deviation of the distribution of income among individuals or households in a given country from a perfectly equal distribution. A value of zero represents absolute equality, whereas 100 would be the highest possible degree of inequality.

In 2023, the gini coefficient for rural areas in Panama did not change in comparison to the previous observation. The gini coefficient for rural areas remained at 0.5 points. For more insights about the gini coefficient for rural areas consider different countries: In 2023, in comparison to Panama, the gini coefficient in Brazil as well as in El Salvador was lower.

The gini coefficient for urban areas in El Salvador increased by 0.02 points (+5.26 percent) compared to the previous observation. In total, the gini coefficient amounted to 0.4 points in 2023. This increase was preceded by a declining gini coefficient.For more insights about the gini coefficient for urban areas consider different countries: In 2023, in comparison to El Salvador, the gini coefficient in Colombia as well as in Brazil was higher.

Out of the G20 countries, South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico have the highest levels of income inequality while France, the Republic of Korea, and Germany have the lowest levels of inequality. Other G20 countries in the middle have Gini coefficients between 32.5 and 42.0. The Gini coefficient measures the level of income inequality worldwide, where a higher score indicates a higher level of income inequality.

Brazil Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data was reported at 0.465 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.484 % for 2016. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data is updated yearly, averaging 0.475 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.484 % in 2016 and a record low of 0.465 % in 2017. Brazil Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAF002: Gini Coefficient: Working Age Population: by Region and State.