Photo: User:Florian Fuchs · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Canada: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Canada is placed 28th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 31.5 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.15 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
28th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Canada on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Canada’s is from 2022 · CC BY 4.0
31.5
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Canada: 31.5. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Northern America
- 31.5 Canada
- Land neighbours
- United States 41.82
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Canada’s is from 2022 · CC BY 4.0
0.15
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Canada: 0.15. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Northern America
- 0.15 Canada
- Land neighbours
- United States 0.95
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
Canada: 3. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Northern America
- 3 Canada
- Land neighbours
- United States 4.5
02Over time
Which way Canada is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
CanadaWorld median
Canada fell from 33.56 in 2002 to 31.5 in 2022; the world median went from 37.14 to 33.91.
Every year’s figures
Year Canada World median 2023 — 33.72 2022 31.50 33.91 2021 31.12 34.04 2020 29.85 34.18 2019 31.75 33.51 2018 32.51 35.25 2017 33.31 34.86 2016 32.70 34.47 2015 33.75 35.52 2014 33.16 34.79 2013 33.80 36.16 2012 33.54 35.40 2011 32.66 33.96 2010 33.59 33.71 2009 33.95 34.91 2008 33.93 34.60 2007 33.84 34.26 2006 34.09 35.63 2005 33.62 36.28 2004 33.78 34.29 2003 33.81 35.46 2002 33.56 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
CanadaWorld median
Canada fell from 0.17 in 2002 to 0.15 in 2022; the world median went from 3.01 to 0.42.
Every year’s figures
Year Canada World median 2023 — 0.345 2022 0.15 0.420 2021 0.13 0.335 2020 0.03 0.280 2019 0.11 0.380 2018 0.11 0.460 2017 0.16 0.300 2016 0.18 0.440 2015 0.20 0.500 2014 0.14 0.635 2013 0.22 0.515 2012 0.12 0.640 2011 0.13 0.430 2010 0.15 0.530 2009 0.17 0.600 2008 0.14 0.350 2007 0.12 0.360 2006 0.18 0.465 2005 0.19 1.250 2004 0.18 0.790 2003 0.17 1.650 2002 0.17 3.010 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
CanadaWorld median
Canada fell from 3.7 in 2017 to 3 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year Canada World median 2025 3.0 26.40 2024 3.0 27.10 2023 2.9 27.15 2022 2.8 27.90 2021 1.8 29.65 2020 1.4 31.80 2019 3.0 29.05 2018 3.3 29.85 2017 3.7 32.40
03In context
Canada beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
Canada and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 28th | 31.5 | 0.15 | 3 |
 United Statescompare | 79th | 41.82 | 0.95 | 4.5 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Canada in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Canada is ahead of the world, and behind
14 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median11
Statistics on which Canada does better than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9860.529No earlier reading
Canada: 0.986 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.8670.609No real change since 2013
Canada: 0.867 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 14th of 169 · derived.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80037,06212,800▼ Worsened since 2017
Canada: 37,062 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 16th of 173 · derived.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.057.48917.05No real change since 2013
Canada: 7.489 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 150th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.3170.446No earlier reading
Canada: 0.317 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 131st of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.210.25▼ Worsened since 2014
Canada: 0.21 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.10.222.1No real change since 2014
Canada: 0.22 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.1950.413▼ Worsened since 2013
Canada: 0.195 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 128th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3330.333▼ Worsened since 2013
Canada: 30.3 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 57th of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.910.520.9▼ Worsened since 2015
Canada: 10.5 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 89th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.3340.337▼ Worsened since 2014
Canada: 0.334 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.
Position 39th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Canada does worse than the middle country measured.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8918.5117.89▲ Improved since 2014
Canada: 18.51 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 35th of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8411.611.841▲ Improved since 2019
Canada: 1.61 · world median 1.841 · Annualized growth in real income or consumption per person of the bottom 40% (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -4.185 to 14.51; higher is better.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.464.55Moved since 2017
Canada: 4.46 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
No current reading for Canada
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Gini Index (last 2022), Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2022), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2022), Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person (last 2022), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Palma Ratio (last 2022), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Lines, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2022), Prosperity Gap (last 2022), Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Societal Poverty Rate (last 2022) and Working Poverty Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Canada’s 15 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Canada’s 8th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Digital & Technology7th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions8th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 15th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation18th of 1764/4 keys
- Gender & Equality21st of 1834/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 27th of 1963/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture28th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality28th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing36th of 2003/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 34th of 1774/4 keys
- Work & Labour36th of 1824/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade38th of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 52nd of 1934/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge70th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability150th of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Canada can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada28th3/3 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Canada on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Canada rank on poverty & inequality?
Canada is placed 28th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Canada?
31.5 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Canada?
0.15 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Canada compare with United States on poverty & inequality?
United States is placed 79th of 159, and Canada 28th. Gini Index: United States 41.82, Canada 31.5; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: United States 0.95, Canada 0.15; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: United States 4.5, Canada 3.
How have Canada’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index fell from 33.56 in 2002 to 31.5 in 2022; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 0.17 in 2002 to 0.15 in 2022; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet fell from 3.7 in 2017 to 3 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Canada?
No current reading is published for Canada on Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Gini Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person, Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Palma Ratio, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Lines, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Societal Poverty Rate and Working Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 14 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Canada’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Canada (banner) — User:Florian Fuchs, CC BY 3.0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Canada: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/canada/poverty