Why Is This Important?

Income inequality harms health by increasing the prevalence of poverty, generating chronic stress due to increased social comparisons, and eroding societal cohesion and destabilizing institutions that protect health.¹

Definition

The Gini Index is a summary measure of income inequality. The Gini coefficient incorporates the detailed shares data into a single statistic, which summarizes the dispersion of income across the entire income distribution. The Gini coefficient ranges from 0, indicating perfect equality (where everyone receives an equal share), to 1, perfect inequality (where only one recipient or group of recipients receives all the income). The Gini is based on the difference between the Lorenz curve (the observed cumulative income distribution) and the notion of a perfectly equal income distribution.

Data Source

How the Measure is Calculated

• Numerator:

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• Denominator:

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Data Issues

Related Risk Factors Indicators:

• Unemployment Rate
• Per Capita Income
• Poverty among All Ages

Health Topic Pages Related to: Income Inequality

• Demographics and Social Determinants of Health