Gini coefficient release highlights China's resolve to bridge wealth gap (2)

URGENT NEED FOR INCOME DISTRIBUTION REFORMS

Despite year-by-year retreat, the Gini coefficient has stayed at a relatively high level of between 0.47 and 0.49 during the past decade. "The statistics highlighted the urgency for our country to speed up the income distribution reforms to narrow the wealth gap," Ma said.

An index reading between 0.3 and 0.4 means the rich-poor gap is relatively reasonable, according to an UN organization.

The NBS has not released the Gini coefficient for the entire country in the past due to a lack of unified survey standards in rural and urban areas.

Last December, the NBS adopted unified statistical standards and indicators for collecting data from urban and rural residents, and calculated the Gini coefficient for 2012.

The bureau also adjusted historical data based on the new standards and came up with the coefficients for 2003 to 2011, the official added.

The average income of urban residents is about three times that of rural people. While in urban areas, the average income of high-income group is about four times that of the low-income group, according to Ma.

The average per capita disposable income of urban residents in 2012 was 24,565 yuan, while the average per capita net income of rural residents was 7,917 yuan, with the income ratio reaching 3:1, according to the NBS.

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