South Africa: Gini index
In , South Africa's Gini index was 54.10.
That's down 9.2% from 2014, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2022 was 39.63 .
Source: World Bank Open Data (SI.POV.GINI) • Data as of 2022
Trend (2008–2022)
Highlights
- Peak
- 62.50
- Trough
- 54.10
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Gini index |
|---|---|
| 54.1000 | |
| 59.6000 | |
| 60.9000 | |
| 62.5000 |
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.GINI • Category: Poverty & Inequality
Frequently asked questions
- What was South Africa's Gini index in 2022?
- In 2022, South Africa's Gini index was 54.10, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is South Africa's Gini index rising or falling?
- South Africa's Gini index fell 9.2% from 2014 to 2022.
- How does South Africa's Gini index compare to the world average?
- The global average for Gini index in 2022 was 39.63, so South Africa 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.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SI.POV.GINI), CC BY 4.0.