12). According to 2008 Gini index estimates based on Solt (2009),
Latin America and the Caribbean is the region with the highest
levels of income inequality, and Sub-Saharan Africa is not far
behind. On the other side of the spectrum, high-income countries
emerge as the most equal group of countries—by a wide margin—
with Eastern Europe and Central Asia ranking as the second most
equal region.
Table 12. Gini Index Values by Region, 1990- 2008
(or latest available)* (unweighted average values)Region (^1990 2000 2008 1990) Change-^2008 2000 Change-^2008
Asia 36.4 40.0 40.4 4.0 0.6
Eastern Europe/Central Asia 26.7 33.2 35.4 8.7 2.2
Latin America and Caribbean 46.9 49.2 48.3 1.5 - 1.3
Middle East and North Africa 39.2 39.2 39.2 0.0 0.0
Sub-Saharan Africa 49.1 46.1 44.2 - 4.8 - 1.8
High-income Countries 27.4 30.8 30.9 3.5 0.0
Number of Observations 137 140 141 132 132
Source: Authors’ calculations using Solt (2009)
- Gini index values based on net income
In terms of change, Eastern Europe and Central Asia along with
Asia appear as the worst performers on average, having increased
their Gini indices by nearly nine and four points, respectively,
between 1990 and 2008. These regions also emerge as the worst
performers over the nearer term, with 2.2 and 0.6 point increases,
respectively, in their Gini indices since 2000. Sub-Saharan Africa,
on the other hand, achieved the biggest gains towards increasingly
equality by reducing its Gini index by about five points, on average,
between 1990 and 2008. Sub-Saharan Africa also ranks as the best
performer over the nearer term, as its regional Gini index decreased
by about two points from 2000 to 2008, although Latin America
and the Caribbean is close behind having reduced by about 1.3
points, on average, according to Solt (2009). Table 13 lists countries
by region that achieved the biggest improvements in terms of
income inequality since 2000.