Gini index in Canada
Canada: Gini index was 31.5 in 2022. ▬ Flat
Gini index in Canada, 1971–2022
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gini index in Canada is 31.5, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gini index in Canada peaked at 37.2 in 1971 and was at its lowest, 29.9, in 2020.
That places Canada 88th out of 123 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Gini index in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 37.2 | — |
| 1973 | 34.9 | -6.2% |
| 1975 | 34.1 | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 33.7 | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 33.5 | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 33 | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 32.9 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 33.5 | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 33.2 | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 31.7 | -4.5% |
| 1987 | 31.7 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 31.2 | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 31 | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 31.4 | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 31.9 | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 31.6 | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 31.7 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 31.3 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 31.5 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 32.8 | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 33.1 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 33.2 | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 33.1 | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 33.4 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 33.6 | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 33.6 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 33.8 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 33.8 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 33.6 | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 34.1 | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 33.8 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 33.9 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 34 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 33.6 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 32.7 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 33.5 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 33.8 | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 33.2 | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 33.7 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 32.7 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 33.3 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 32.5 | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 31.8 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 29.9 | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 31.1 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 31.5 | +1.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 31.5 is below the median for high income countries, which is 32.05, 98% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.68 | 33.5 | 37.2 | 5 |
| 1980s | 32.27 | 31 | 33.5 | 8 |
| 1990s | 32.16 | 31.3 | 33.2 | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.76 | 33.4 | 34.1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.08 | 31.8 | 33.8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.83 | 29.9 | 31.5 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More poverty & inequality data for Canada
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 7 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.35 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,695 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -9.41 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.78 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gini index in Canada?
- Gini index in Canada was 31.5 in 2022, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest gini index recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 37.2 in 1971.
- What is the lowest gini index recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.9 in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for gini index?
- Canada ranks 88th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gini index rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Gini index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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.