The Gini index, also known as the Gini coefficient, is a statistical measure used to represent income or wealth distribution within a population. It ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 indicates perfect equality (everyone has the same income) and 1 signifies perfect inequality (one person has all the income, while others have none). This index is commonly used by economists and policymakers to assess economic inequality in countries and regions. A higher Gini index suggests greater inequality, while a lower index indicates a more equitable distribution of resources. It is often used in conjunction with other measures of economic health, such as GDP and poverty rates.