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Malaysia: Gini index

In , Malaysia's Gini index was 40.70.

That's down 1.2% from 2018, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2021 was 39.63 .

Source: World Bank Open Data (SI.POV.GINI) • Data as of 2021

Trend (2006–2021)

Malaysia Gini index trend

Highlights

Peak
45.50
Trough
40.70
10-year change
-6.7%
-0.7% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Gini index
40.7000
41.2000
41.1000
41.3000
43.6000
45.5000
44.8000

About Gini index

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.

Indicator code: SI.POV.GINICategory: Poverty & Inequality

Frequently asked questions

What was Malaysia's Gini index in 2021?
In 2021, Malaysia's Gini index was 40.70, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Malaysia's Gini index rising or falling?
Malaysia's Gini index fell 1.2% from 2018 to 2021.
How does Malaysia's Gini index compare to the world average?
The global average for Gini index in 2021 was 39.63, so Malaysia is above the world average.
What is Gini index and how is it measured?
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.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SI.POV.GINI), CC BY 4.0.