The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of variance. It is often applied to measure inequality of incomes in a particular area. 0 represents complete equality, i.e., every person has the same income, and 1 represents complete inequality, i.e., where one person has all the income and others have none. The information was tabulated in 2010 from data from the American Community Survey conducted by the US Census Bureau. Utah shows the flattest income distribution while the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and New York State have the largest income disparities between wage earners in all income categories.[1] U.S. income inequality was at its highest level since the United States Census Bureau began tracking household income in 1967. The U.S. also has the greatest disparity among Western industrialized nations.[1]
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The Gini index for the United States is 0.469.
2010 Rank |
State | Gini Coefficient |
---|---|---|
1 | Utah | 0.419 |
2 | Alaska | 0.422 |
3 | Wyoming | 0.423 |
4 | New Hampshire | 0.425 |
5 | Iowa | 0.427 |
6 | Wisconsin | 0.43 |
7 | Nebraska | 0.432 |
8 | Hawaii | 0.433 |
8 | Idaho | 0.433 |
8 | North Dakota | 0.433 |
11 | Montana | 0.435 |
12 | Maine | 0.437 |
13 | Delaware | 0.44 |
13 | Indiana | 0.44 |
13 | Minnesota | 0.44 |
16 | Washington | 0.441 |
17 | South Dakota | 0.442 |
18 | Maryland | 0.443 |
19 | Vermont | 0.444 |
20 | Kansas | 0.445 |
21 | Nevada | 0.448 |
22 | Oregon | 0.449 |
23 | Michigan | 0.451 |
23 | West Virginia | 0.451 |
25 | Ohio | 0.452 |
26 | Oklahoma | 0.454 |
27 | Arizona | 0.455 |
27 | Missouri | 0.455 |
29 | Colorado | 0.457 |
30 | Arkansas | 0.458 |
31 | Virginia | 0.459 |
32 | Pennsylvania | 0.461 |
32 | South Carolina | 0.461 |
34 | New Jersey | 0.464 |
34 | New Mexico | 0.464 |
34 | North Carolina | 0.464 |
37 | Illinois | 0.465 |
38 | Kentucky | 0.466 |
39 | Rhode Island | 0.467 |
40 | Georgia | 0.468 |
40 | Mississippi | 0.468 |
40 | Tennessee | 0.468 |
43 | Texas | 0.469 |
44 | California | 0.471 |
45 | Alabama | 0.472 |
46 | Florida | 0.474 |
47 | Louisiana | 0.475 |
47 | Massachusetts | 0.475 |
49 | Connecticut | 0.486 |
50 | New York | 0.499 |
51 | District of Columbia | 0.532 |
52 | Puerto Rico | 0.537 |