Photo: Stefano Brivio · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
United States: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
United States is placed 79th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 41.82 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.95 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
79th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place United States 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 · United States’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
41.82
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
United States: 41.82. 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
- Canada 31.5 · Mexico 43.45
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · United States’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.95
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
United States: 0.95. 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
- Canada 0.15 · Mexico 0.63
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
4.5
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
United States: 4.5. 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
- Canada 3 · Mexico 20
02Over time
Which way United States 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
United StatesWorld median
United States rose from 40.35 in 2002 to 41.82 in 2023; the world median went from 37.14 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year United States World median 2023 41.82 33.72 2022 41.70 33.91 2021 39.71 34.04 2020 40.00 34.18 2019 41.90 33.51 2018 41.78 35.25 2017 41.39 34.86 2016 41.33 34.47 2015 41.46 35.52 2014 41.74 34.79 2013 40.87 36.16 2012 41.16 35.40 2011 41.16 33.96 2010 40.24 33.71 2009 40.85 34.91 2008 41.09 34.60 2007 41.09 34.26 2006 41.70 35.63 2005 41.26 36.28 2004 40.55 34.29 2003 40.77 35.46 2002 40.35 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
United StatesWorld median
United States rose from 0.65 in 2002 to 0.95 in 2023; the world median went from 3.01 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year United States World median 2023 0.95 0.345 2022 1.04 0.420 2021 0.27 0.335 2020 0.28 0.280 2019 0.77 0.380 2018 0.85 0.460 2017 0.99 0.300 2016 0.89 0.440 2015 0.92 0.500 2014 1.01 0.635 2013 0.81 0.515 2012 0.84 0.640 2011 0.81 0.430 2010 0.86 0.530 2009 0.74 0.600 2008 0.86 0.350 2007 0.79 0.360 2006 0.81 0.465 2005 0.80 1.250 2004 0.81 0.790 2003 0.78 1.650 2002 0.65 3.010 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
United StatesWorld median
United States fell from 5.8 in 2017 to 4.5 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year United States World median 2025 4.5 26.40 2024 4.6 27.10 2023 5.2 27.15 2022 5.4 27.90 2021 2.9 29.65 2020 3.7 31.80 2019 4.7 29.05 2018 5.3 29.85 2017 5.8 32.40
03In context
United States 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.
United States 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canadacompare | 28th | 31.5 | 0.15 | 3 |
| United States | 79th | 41.82 | 0.95 | 4.5 |
 Mexicocompare | 97th | 43.45 | 0.63 | 20 |
“—”: 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.
- Canada28th
- United States79th
Bermudanot placed
Greenlandnot placed
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below United States in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where United States is ahead of the world, and behind
26 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 median13
Statistics on which United States does better than the middle country measured.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80052,65412,800No real change since 2017
United States: 52,654 · 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 1st of 173 · derived.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.170.25No real change since 2014
United States: 0.17 · 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.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9940.529No earlier reading
United States: 0.994 · 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.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7669.7422.76No real change since 2013
United States: 69.74 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 5th of 60 · derived.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.8320.609▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 0.832 · 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 29th of 169 · derived.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.1940.413▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 0.194 · 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 129th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0510.717.05▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 10.7 · 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 120th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2521.2764.252No earlier reading
United States: 1.276 · 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 110th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.822.17.82▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 2.1 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 41st of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.910.720.9▼ Worsened since 2015
United States: 10.7 · 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 88th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4130.446No earlier reading
United States: 0.413 · 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 94th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.11.022.1▼ Worsened since 2014
United States: 1.02 · 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.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7541.4341.754▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 1.434 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 34th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which United States does worse than the middle country measured.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.341.41.34▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 1.4 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.
Position 30th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.931.20.93▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 1.2 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 25th of 58 · derived, 1st = worst.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.219.917.2▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 19.9 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 25th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8411.4541.841▼ Worsened since 2019
United States: 1.454 · 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.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8922.3417.89▲ Improved since 2014
United States: 22.34 · 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 22nd of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3339.233▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 39.2 · 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 20th of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1830.9126.18▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 30.91 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 15th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3322.0431.332▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 2.043 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 12th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.430.337▼ Worsened since 2014
United States: 0.43 · 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 14th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.790.185▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 0.79 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.125.057.12▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 5.05 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 60 · derived.
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 6.884.4676.88No earlier reading
United States: 4.467 · 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.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.552.864.55Moved since 2017
United States: 2.86 · 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 United States
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Lines, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months 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 United States’s 16 topics
Poverty & Inequality is United States’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade7th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology8th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture12th of 1844/4 keys
- Work & Labour14th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 25th of 1944/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 30th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation28th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital46th of 1963/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 43rd of 1834/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge60th of 1983/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties68th of 1984/4 keys
- Energy59th of 1653/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience72nd of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality79th of 1593/3 keys
- Peace & Security136th of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability171st of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders United States 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 keysThis page
United States79th3/3 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
United States 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 United States rank on poverty & inequality?
United States is placed 79th 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 United States?
41.82 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 United States?
0.95 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 United States compare with Mexico on poverty & inequality?
Mexico is placed 97th of 159, and United States 79th. Gini Index: Mexico 43.45, United States 41.82; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Mexico 0.63, United States 0.95; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: Mexico 20, United States 4.5.
How have United States’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index rose from 40.35 in 2002 to 41.82 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day rose from 0.65 in 2002 to 0.95 in 2023; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet fell from 5.8 in 2017 to 4.5 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for United States?
No current reading is published for United States on Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Lines, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months 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 26 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
United States’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- United States (banner) — Stefano Brivio, CC BY 2.0
- 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). United States: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/united-states/poverty