COLOMBIA · ECONOMY
Key Facts
—The ranking: a UN report places Colombia among the world’s most unequal countries by income.
—The measure: its Gini score of about 54.8 trails only South Africa and Namibia globally.
—The region: it makes Colombia the most unequal economy in Latin America by this gauge.
—The contrast: the country has high human development but deep gaps in how income is shared.
—Latin American impact: a reminder that growth alone does not close the region’s wide income gaps.
Colombia ranks among the world’s most unequal economies, a UN report finds, with income inequality so wide it places the country third globally and first in Latin America.
Where Colombia Ranks on Inequality
The placement is striking. The United Nations Development Programme’s 2025 Human Development Report puts Colombia third in the world for income inequality, behind only South Africa and Namibia. It is the most unequal economy in Latin America by this measure.
The yardstick is the Gini score. Colombia registered about 54.8 on the scale, where higher numbers mean greater inequality. South Africa stood near 63 and Namibia near 59, the report found.
The finding is not new in spirit. The World Bank has reached a similar conclusion, also ranking Colombia third globally and describing deep gaps in access to services across regions.
What the Gap Reflects
Progress and disparity sit side by side. The report notes Colombia has made gains in health, education and income, lifting its overall human development. Yet the rewards remain unevenly shared.
The pattern is regional. Latin America generally records high inequality, and analysts note that tax-and-transfer systems do less to narrow the gap than in wealthier economies. Access to schooling and health tends to help more.
It is a measured comparison, not a verdict on living standards. The Gini captures income concentration at a moment in time, and rankings shift with methods and data. The broad picture, though, is consistent across sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gini score?
It measures income inequality on a scale where higher values mean a wider gap between rich and poor. Colombia’s reading of about 54.8 is among the highest in the world.
Which countries are more unequal?
By the UN report’s income measure, only South Africa, near 63, and Namibia, near 59, rank above Colombia. That places Colombia third in the world and first in Latin America.
Can Colombia have high development and high inequality?
Yes. The report shows Colombia advancing in health, education and income overall, while income remains concentrated. Aggregate gains can mask how unevenly they are shared.
Connected Coverage
For more on the region’s development, see The Rio Times on Brazil’s human development gains and on tax havens and offshore wealth.
In depth
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