Malawi: Gini inequality index

The latest value from 2019 is 38.5 index points, a decline from 44.7 index points in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 35.06 index points, based on data from 75 countries. Historically, the average for Malawi from 1997 to 2019 is 46.88 index points. The minimum value, 38.5 index points, was reached in 2019 while the maximum of 65.8 index points was recorded in 1997. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: 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.