Story: Class

Income equality in OECD countries (3rd of 3)

This graph provides an international comparison of equality of income. It uses the Gini coefficient, which calculates the average income distance between any two individuals in the population, scaled by average income. Scores close to 100 imply extreme inequality; those close to zero suggest great equality. New Zealand's level of 35 was above the OECD average of 32. It was more equal than Mexico and the United States, around the same as Australia but less equal than most European countries. The figures were from 2014-2015, except for Japan (2012).

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Class - A new society, 1980s onwards', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/graph/29742/income-equality-in-oecd-countries (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 22 May 2018