Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Ukraine: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Ukraine is placed joint 3rd of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 25.63 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.01 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
joint3rd
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Ukraine 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 · Ukraine’s is from 2020 · CC BY 4.0
25.63
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Ukraine: 25.63. 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 Eastern Europe
- 23.82 Slovakia
- Land neighbours
- Belarus 24.38 · Hungary 30.58 · Moldova 26.76 · Poland 28.47 · Romania 29.83 · Russia 33.01 · Slovakia 23.82
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Ukraine’s is from 2020 · CC BY 4.0
0.01
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Ukraine: 0.01. 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 Eastern Europe
- 0 Czechia and Belarus
- Land neighbours
- Belarus 0 · Hungary 0.47 · Moldova 0.02 · Poland 0.13 · Romania 0.25 · Russia 0.04 · Slovakia 0.21
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
No reading
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2025 figure for Ukraine, so the standing rests on the other keys.
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 Eastern Europe
- 0.6 Belarus
- Land neighbours
- Belarus 0.6 · Hungary 29.8 · Moldova 11.4 · Poland 7.3 · Romania 20.1 · Russia 12.4 · Slovakia 27.2
02Over time
Which way Ukraine 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
UkraineWorld median
Ukraine fell from 29.05 in 2002 to 25.63 in 2020; the world median went from 37.14 to 34.18.
Every year’s figures
Year Ukraine World median 2023 — 33.72 2022 — 33.91 2021 — 34.04 2020 25.63 34.18 2019 26.62 33.51 2018 26.07 35.25 2017 26.05 34.86 2016 25.00 34.47 2015 25.46 35.52 2014 24.03 34.79 2013 24.55 36.16 2012 24.74 35.40 2011 24.55 33.96 2010 24.82 33.71 2009 25.32 34.91 2008 26.64 34.60 2007 27.01 34.26 2006 29.79 35.63 2005 29.02 36.28 2004 28.93 34.29 2003 28.66 35.46 2002 29.05 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
UkraineWorld median
Ukraine fell from 1.35 in 2002 to 0.01 in 2020; the world median went from 3.01 to 0.28.
Every year’s figures
Year Ukraine World median 2023 — 0.345 2022 — 0.420 2021 — 0.335 2020 0.01 0.280 2019 0.02 0.380 2018 0.05 0.460 2017 0.01 0.300 2016 0.04 0.440 2015 0.05 0.500 2014 0.01 0.635 2013 0.00 0.515 2012 0.03 0.640 2011 0.01 0.430 2010 0.01 0.530 2009 0.04 0.600 2008 0.02 0.350 2007 0.07 0.360 2006 0.11 0.465 2005 0.21 1.250 2004 0.48 0.790 2003 0.63 1.650 2002 1.35 3.010
03In context
Ukraine 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.
Ukraine 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Belarus | 1st | 24.38 | 0 | 0.6 |
| Ukraine | =3rd | 25.63 | 0.01 | — |
 Moldova | 18th | 26.76 | 0.02 | 11.4 |
 Poland | 24th | 28.47 | 0.13 | 7.3 |
 Slovakia | =35th | 23.82 | 0.21 | 27.2 |
 Russia | 38th | 33.01 | 0.04 | 12.4 |
 Romania | =44th | 29.83 | 0.25 | 20.1 |
 Hungary | 59th | 30.58 | 0.47 | 29.8 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Ukraine in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Ukraine 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 Ukraine does better than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9920.529No earlier reading
Ukraine: 0.992 · 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.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.10.042.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Ukraine: 0.04 · 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.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6544.6518.65No earlier reading
Ukraine: 44.65 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.058.06517.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Ukraine: 8.065 · 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 145th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8414.131.841▲ Improved since 2014
Ukraine: 4.13 · 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.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4020.446No earlier reading
Ukraine: 0.402 · 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 101st of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.7150.609▼ Worsened since 2013
Ukraine: 0.715 · 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 59th of 169 · derived.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2521.6794.252No earlier reading
Ukraine: 1.679 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.230.25▼ Worsened since 2014
Ukraine: 0.23 · 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.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.3280.413▲ Improved since 2013
Ukraine: 0.328 · 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 102nd of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80013,68612,800▲ Improved since 2017
Ukraine: 13,686 · 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 81st of 173 · derived.
Behind the world median1
Statistics on which Ukraine does worse than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.93220.9▼ Worsened since 2015
Ukraine: 32 · 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 47th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.888.3196.88No earlier reading
Ukraine: 8.319 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.823.221.8No earlier reading
Ukraine: 23.2 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
No current reading for Ukraine
Cost of a Healthy Diet, Gini Index (last 2020), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2020), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (last 2024), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2020), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2020), Low Pay Rate, Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person (last 2020), Palma Ratio (last 2020), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2020), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2020), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2020), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2020), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2020), Prosperity Gap (last 2020), Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet, Societal Poverty Rate (last 2020) and Working Poverty Rate (last 2021). 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 Ukraine’s 14 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Ukraine’s best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 3rd of 1592/3 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 23rd of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 56th of 1834/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital65th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience87th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation83rd of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing97th of 2003/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 97th of 1863/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge105th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade94th of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture106th of 1844/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties115th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 121st of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security156th of 1774/4 keys
No standing on Work & Labour, 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 Ukraine can most readily be measured against.
1BelarusEastern 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
- =3Ukraine
Eastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Belarus1st3/3 keysThis page
Ukraine=3rd2/3 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
Ukraine 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 Ukraine rank on poverty & inequality?
Ukraine is placed joint 3rd of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index and Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Ukraine?
25.63 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 Ukraine?
0.01 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 Ukraine compare with Russia on poverty & inequality?
Russia is placed 38th of 159, and Ukraine joint 3rd. Gini Index: Russia 33.01, Ukraine 25.63; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Russia 0.04, Ukraine 0.01.
How have Ukraine’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index fell from 29.05 in 2002 to 25.63 in 2020; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 1.35 in 2002 to 0.01 in 2020.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Ukraine?
No current reading is published for Ukraine on Cost of a Healthy Diet, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Low Pay Rate, Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person, Palma Ratio, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, 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, Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet, 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 5 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
Ukraine’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Ukraine (banner) — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Ukraine: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/ukraine/poverty