Family Income Inequality (Gini)
Family income inequality (Gini coefficient)
Where the Family Income Inequality (Gini) stands now
The Family Income Inequality (Gini) was 0.46 in 2025, down from the 0.462 peak in 2021. It has been higher than the year before for two straight years.
How the Family Income Inequality (Gini) has moved since 1947
Family Income Inequality (Gini): little changed over the past year
Gini index of pretax family money income, all races, Census Table F-4: 0.46 in 2025, little changed from 0.457 a year earlier. Annual, 1947–2025.
What the Family Income Inequality (Gini) measures
A higher index value is worse for households.
Family Income Inequality (Gini) by year, 1947 to 2025
Every year since 1947, newest first. The change compares each year with the same year a year earlier.
The source changed how it measures this in 1993. Census changed its income collection method and raised reporting limits for 1993 data, and says comparisons of income inequality that bridge 1992 and 1993 should be avoided. Figures on either side are not directly comparable, so the change column stays blank where a comparison would cross that date. Source documentation.
The source changed how it measures this in 2013. Census Table F-4 gives two 2013 family Gini estimates, from the legacy and the redesigned income questions; the stored 2013 value is the redesigned estimate, comparable with later years, not earlier ones. Figures on either side are not directly comparable, so the change column stays blank where a comparison would cross that date. Source documentation.
The source changed how it measures this in 2017. Census Table F-4 gives two 2017 family Gini estimates; the stored updated-processing value (0.458) is for comparison with 2018 and later, and the legacy value (0.449) for earlier years. Figures on either side are not directly comparable, so the change column stays blank where a comparison would cross that date. Source documentation.
| Year | Index value | Change from a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.46 | +0.003 |
| 2024 | 0.457 | +0.005 |
| 2023 | 0.452 | −0.006 |
| 2022 | 0.458 | −0.004 |
| 2021 | 0.462 | +0.004 |
| 2020 | 0.458 | +0.004 |
| 2019 | 0.454 | +0.002 |
| 2018 | 0.452 | −0.006 |
| 2017 | 0.458 | — |
| 2016 | 0.452 | +0.004 |
| 2015 | 0.448 | −0.004 |
| 2014 | 0.452 | −0.003 |
| 2013 | 0.455 | — |
| 2012 | 0.451 | +0.001 |
| 2011 | 0.45 | +0.01 |
| 2010 | 0.44 | −0.003 |
| 2009 | 0.443 | +0.005 |
| 2008 | 0.438 | +0.006 |
| 2007 | 0.432 | −0.012 |
| 2006 | 0.444 | +0.004 |
| 2005 | 0.44 | +0.002 |
| 2004 | 0.438 | +0.002 |
| 2003 | 0.436 | +0.002 |
| 2002 | 0.434 | −0.001 |
| 2001 | 0.435 | +0.002 |
| 2000 | 0.433 | +0.004 |
| 1999 | 0.429 | −0.001 |
| 1998 | 0.43 | +0.001 |
| 1997 | 0.429 | +0.004 |
| 1996 | 0.425 | +0.004 |
| 1995 | 0.421 | −0.005 |
| 1994 | 0.426 | −0.003 |
| 1993 | 0.429 | — |
| 1992 | 0.404 | +0.007 |
| 1991 | 0.397 | +0.001 |
| 1990 | 0.396 | −0.005 |
| 1989 | 0.401 | +0.006 |
| 1988 | 0.395 | +0.002 |
| 1987 | 0.393 | +0.001 |
| 1986 | 0.392 | +0.003 |
| 1985 | 0.389 | +0.006 |
| 1984 | 0.383 | +0.001 |
| 1983 | 0.382 | +0.002 |
| 1982 | 0.38 | +0.011 |
| 1981 | 0.369 | +0.004 |
| 1980 | 0.365 | 0 |
| 1979 | 0.365 | +0.002 |
| 1978 | 0.363 | 0 |
| 1977 | 0.363 | +0.005 |
| 1976 | 0.358 | +0.001 |
| 1975 | 0.357 | +0.002 |
| 1974 | 0.355 | −0.001 |
| 1973 | 0.356 | −0.003 |
| 1972 | 0.359 | +0.004 |
| 1971 | 0.355 | +0.002 |
| 1970 | 0.353 | +0.004 |
| 1969 | 0.349 | +0.001 |
| 1968 | 0.348 | −0.01 |
| 1967 | 0.358 | +0.009 |
| 1966 | 0.349 | −0.007 |
| 1965 | 0.356 | −0.005 |
| 1964 | 0.361 | −0.001 |
| 1963 | 0.362 | 0 |
| 1962 | 0.362 | −0.012 |
| 1961 | 0.374 | +0.01 |
| 1960 | 0.364 | +0.003 |
| 1959 | 0.361 | +0.007 |
| 1958 | 0.354 | +0.003 |
| 1957 | 0.351 | −0.007 |
| 1956 | 0.358 | −0.005 |
| 1955 | 0.363 | −0.008 |
| 1954 | 0.371 | +0.012 |
| 1953 | 0.359 | −0.009 |
| 1952 | 0.368 | +0.005 |
| 1951 | 0.363 | −0.016 |
| 1950 | 0.379 | +0.001 |
| 1949 | 0.378 | +0.007 |
| 1948 | 0.371 | −0.005 |
| 1947 | 0.376 | — |
Annual · U.S. Census Bureau data retrieved via FRED (GINIALLRF)
Counties with the highest labor scores
There's no county figure for this measure, so this list uses the labor part of our County Distress Index.
| Rank | County | Score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apache County, AZ | 99.2 |
| 2 | Mingo County, WV | 98.7 |
| 3 | Navajo County, AZ | 97.3 |
| 4 | Luna County, NM | 97.2 |
| 5 | McKinley County, NM | 96.8 |
| 6 | Lake County, CA | 96.8 |
| 7 | Clare County, MI | 96.6 |
| 8 | Harlan County, KY | 96.2 |
| 9 | Wyoming County, WV | 96.2 |
| 10 | Pike County, KY | 96.1 |
Questions about family income inequality
What is the family income Gini index?
It is a number from 0 to 1 that shows how unevenly income is spread across U.S. families. Census put it at 0.46 for 2025. It is a ratio, not a percent.
How has family income inequality changed?
For 2025 the Gini was 0.46, about the same as the 0.457 of 2024. It is the highest reading since 2021, when it was 0.462.
Why does Census report a different Gini in its income report?
The Gini that Census headlines each September is for households, which include people living alone. This page tracks the family Gini from Census Table F-4, which covers only families of two or more related people and runs lower. Census also publishes post-tax and size-adjusted versions, which differ again.
Where does this data come from?
The Census Bureau's Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, a survey fielded from February to April. Each September Census publishes the figure for the previous calendar year's income.
Sources and method for the Family Income Inequality (Gini)
- U.S. Census Bureau data retrieved via FRED (GINIALLRF) We use the annual figures as published, from 1947 through 2025, with no adjustment of our own. U.S. Census Bureau’s report
We write with assistance from AI tools. Figures come from the data and sources named on this page.