Gini index in India
India: Gini index was 23 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Gini index in India, 1977–2023
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 India is 23, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 9.8% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gini index in India peaked at 29.7 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 23, in 2023.
India ranks 123rd of 123 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Gini index in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 29.7 | — |
| 1983 | 27.2 | -8.4% |
| 1987 | 27.5 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 26.1 | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 27.7 | +6.1% |
| 2009 | 27.8 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 28.8 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 25.5 | -11.5% |
| 2023 | 23 | -9.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 23 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 35.3, 65% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- India's 23 is below the median for South Asia, which is 30, 77% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 29.7 | 29.7 | 29.7 | 1 |
| 1980s | 27.35 | 27.2 | 27.5 | 2 |
| 1990s | 26.1 | 26.1 | 26.1 | 1 |
| 2000s | 27.75 | 27.7 | 27.8 | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.8 | 28.8 | 28.8 | 1 |
| 2020s | 24.25 | 23 | 25.5 | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More poverty & inequality data for India
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 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 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,632 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.8468 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.32 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.3% (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 India?
- Gini index in India was 23 in 2023, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 29.7 in 1977.
- What is the lowest gini index recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 23 in 2023.
- How does India rank for gini index?
- India ranks 123rd out of 123 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gini index rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.