Countries by Gini Inequality Index

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by the Gini coefficient — a measure of income inequality where 0 represents perfect equality and 100 represents maximum inequality. World Bank data consistently shows that South Africa has one of the highest Gini coefficients in the world, while Nordic countries and Central Europe have the lowest inequality levels.

Analysis

The stark contrast in Gini coefficients highlights a significant divide between countries with high income inequality and those with more equitable distributions of wealth. South Africa's Gini coefficient of 63.0 is alarmingly high, indicating deep-rooted economic disparities, while Namibia and Zambia also reflect notable inequality with coefficients of 59.1 and 57.1. In contrast, the Nordic countries, exemplified by Sweden and Norway, demonstrate that effective social policies and wealth redistribution can lead to much lower inequality, as seen in their Gini coefficients of 27.6 and 25.9. This data suggests that addressing income inequality remains a critical challenge for nations like South Africa, where the gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to widen.

Source: World Bank

Key Findings

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South Africa leads in Gini Coefficient with 63 in 2023.

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Average Gini Coefficient in 2023: 45 · median: 52.

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Gap in 2023: South Africa is 2.6× larger than Slovakia.