The gap between the rich and poor is growing in the US over the years, says a report on the US human rights record released on Sunday.

America's Gini index was 0.477 in 2011 and income inequality increased by 1.6 percent between 2010 and 2011, indicating a widened rich-poor gap, the report says.

Between 2010 and 2011, the share of aggregate income increased 1.6 percent for the quintile with the highest household income, and increased 4.9 percent for the top five percent households, it said, citing US official figures.

During the same period, the aggregate share of income declined for the middle quintile and the changes in the shares of aggregate income for the lowest two quintiles were not statistically significant, it added.

America's poverty rate in 2011 was 15 percent, with 46.2 million people in poverty, according to the US Census Bureau data released in September 2012.

Furthermore, the report says there were 21 homeless people per 10,000 people in the general population and nearly four in 10 homeless people were unsheltered.

The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2012 was released by China's State Council Information Office in response to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 issued by the US State Department.

Highlights:
US-led military operations bring forth ecological disasters to other countries: report

US-led wars cause massive civilian casualties: report

US women victims of discrimination, poverty, sexual violence: report

US scores low on children's rights protection: report

Racial discrimination remains rampant in US: report

Ethnic Americans in poverty due to discrimination: report

Wealth gap growing in US: report

US election marked by political donations: report

Abuse of suspects, jail inmates common in US: report

US govt steps up surveillance of citizens: report

Firearms-related crimes pose serious threat to US citizens: report

US people's lives, personal security not duly protected: report

 

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