Burundi Gini Index

Burundi’s Gini index stood at 37.50 in 2020, placing the country 50th in the world and indicating a moderate level of income inequality compared with peers such as China (37.10) and Israel (37.80). The indicator has risen from its earliest recorded value of 33.30 in 1992, the all‑time trough, to a peak of 42.10 in 1998, a period that coincided with civil conflict and severe economic disruption. Since the late 1990s, the index has gradually declined, reflecting modest improvements in income distribution despite persistent structural challenges, limited fiscal capacity and a largely agrarian economy. Over the five‑year coverage window the downward trajectory has been steady but slow, suggesting that without targeted social policies, the pace of convergence toward the lower‑inequality benchmarks of regional peers may remain limited. Continued investment in inclusive education, rural development and progressive taxation could further compress the gap and shift the trend toward a lower Gini score in the coming decade.