In 2023, according to the Gini coefficient, household income distribution in the United States was 0.47. This figure was at 0.43 in 1990, which indicates an increase in income inequality in the U.S. over the past 30 years. What is the Gini coefficient? The Gini coefficient, or Gini index, is a statistical measure of economic inequality and wealth distribution among a population. A value of zero represents perfect economic equality, and a value of one represents perfect economic inequality. The Gini coefficient helps to visualize income inequality in a more digestible way. For example, according to the Gini coefficient, the District of Columbia and the state of New York have the greatest amount of income inequality in the U.S. with a score of 0.51, and Utah has the greatest income equality with a score of 0.43. The Gini coefficient around the world The Gini coefficient is also an effective measure to help picture income inequality around the world. For example, in 2018 income inequality was highest in South Africa, while income inequality was lowest in Slovenia.

Graph and download economic data for GINI Index for the United States (SIPOVGINIUSA) from 1963 to 2023 about gini, indexes, and USA.

The income distribution Gini-coefficient of individual earnings for full-time, year-round workers was 0.42 in 2023, indicating no change from the year prior. A Gini coefficient of zero expresses perfect equality, where all would have the same income, and a Gini coefficient of one expresses maximal inequality among values. In 2021, the Gini coefficient for individual income was 0.43.

Graph and download economic data for Income Gini Ratio for Households by Race of Householder, All Races from 1967 to 2023 about gini, households, income, and USA.

In 2023, the Gini Index for all U.S. households was ****. The U.S. Census Bureau defines the Gini index as “a statistical measure of income inequality ranging from zero to one. A measure of one indicates perfect inequality, i.e., one household having all the income and the rest having none. A measure of zero indicates perfect equality, i.e., all households having an equal share of income.”

Abstract

This dataset contains tables that match an estimated Gini coefficient to a specific geographic region (either census tract, county, or state) from 2010 to 2018. The 1-year estimates are produced by the American Community Survey (ACS).

Documentation

*The passage below comes from the US Census website:*

GINI INDEX OF INCOME INEQUALITYSurvey/Program: American Community SurveyUniverse: HouseholdsYear: 2018Estimates: 1-YearTable ID: B19083

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities, and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties. Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see ACS Technical Documentation ). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables. While the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) data generally reflect the July 2015 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delineations of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, in certain instances the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB delineations due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities. Estimates of urban and rural populations, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on Census 2010 data. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization. Explanation of Symbols: Supporting documentation on code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Technical Documentation section. Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section.

In 2023, the Gini index for Black households in the United States stood at 0.5, which was higher than the national index that year. The Census Bureau defines the Gini index as “a statistical measure of income inequality ranging from zero to one. A measure of one indicates perfect inequality, i.e., one household having all the income and the rest having none. A measure of zero indicates perfect equality, i.e., all households having an equal share of income.”

New York was the state with the greatest gap between rich and poor, with a Gini coefficient score of 0.52 in 2023. Although not a state, District of Columbia was among the highest Gini coefficients in the United States that year.

United States US: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data was reported at 41.500 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 41.000 % for 2013. United States US: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data is updated yearly, averaging 40.400 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 41.500 % in 2016 and a record low of 34.600 % in 1979. United States US: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Based on the degree of inequality in income distribution measured by the Gini coefficient, Colombia was the most unequal country in Latin America as of 2022. Colombia's Gini coefficient amounted to 54.8. The Dominican Republic recorded the lowest Gini coefficient at 37, 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 37 and 55 points according to the latest available data from the reporting period 2010-2023. 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.

Comparing the *** selected regions regarding the gini index , South Africa is leading the ranking (**** points) and is followed by Namibia with **** points. At the other end of the spectrum is Slovakia with **** points, indicating a difference of *** points to South Africa. The Gini coefficient here measures the degree of income inequality on a scale from * (=total equality of incomes) to *** (=total inequality).The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in more than *** countries and regions worldwide. All input data are sourced from international institutions, national statistical offices, and trade associations. All data has been are processed to generate comparable datasets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

Estimated Gini index by US county in 2018.

The table Gini by County is part of the dataset US Gini Coefficient , available at https://redivis.com/datasets/fme1-3tf0n6q1d. It contains 839 rows across 4 variables.

The USA: Gini income inequality index: The latest value from 2022 is 41.3 index points, an increase from 39.7 index points in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 38.33 index points, based on data from 28 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1963 to 2022 is 38.7 index points. The minimum value, 34.7 index points, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 41.5 index points was recorded in 2014.

Estimated Gini index by US census tract in 2018.

The table Gini by Census Tract is part of the dataset US Gini Coefficient , available at https://redivis.com/datasets/fme1-3tf0n6q1d. It contains 74016 rows across 4 variables.

United States - Income Gini for Households by Race of Householder, Black Alone or in Combination was 0.50100 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Income Gini for Households by Race of Householder, Black Alone or in Combination reached a record high of 0.51500 in January of 2020 and a record low of 0.47300 in January of 2003. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Income Gini for Households by Race of Householder, Black Alone or in Combination - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Estimated Gini index by state from 2010 to 2018.

The table Gini by State is part of the dataset US Gini Coefficient , available at https://redivis.com/datasets/fme1-3tf0n6q1d. It contains 468 rows across 4 variables.

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 average for 2021 based on 12 countries was 44.83 index points. The highest value was in Colombia: 55.1 index points and the lowest value was in Dominican Republic: 38.5 index points. The indicator is available from 1963 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Income Gini Ratio of Families by Race of Householder, White Alone Not Hispanic (GINIWANHF) from 2002 to 2023 about gini, white, hispanic, households, income, and USA.

Iran IR: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data was reported at 38.800 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 37.400 % for 2013. Iran IR: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data is updated yearly, averaging 43.600 % from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2014, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 47.400 % in 1986 and a record low of 37.400 % in 2013. Iran IR: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.