Comparing economic inequality between the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty

Summary

Per-capita income and inequality in the Roman and Han Empires. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58581-0 A trio of researchers from Bocconi University, in Italy, the University of Cambridge, in the U.K., and Stanford University, in the U.S., has found that there was more economic inequality under the Han Dynasty than during the Roman Empire. In their study published in the journal Nature Communications, Guido Alfani, Michele Bolla and Walter Scheidel applied modern economic and business tools to the two economies. The Roman Empire existed for approximately 500 years, from approximately 27 BC to approximately 476 AD, and included most of the territory surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, other parts of Europe and the U.K. The Han Dynasty existed for approximately 425 years, from approximately 206 BC to 220 AD, and included what is now China and parts of Vietnam, Korea, and other nearby regions. The two empires, the researchers noted, co-existed for approximately 250 years, and while there were many differences in conditions between the two, the researchers have found that there were also similarities. To compare economic conditions for people living during the two empires, the researchers gathered as much historical evidence as they could find and used it to assess living conditions based on social position and wealth. They found that the average income for people living during the Roman Empire was approximately 2.25 times the subsistence minimum and 1.88 for those living during the Han Dynasty. They also found that the top 1% of Romans earned approximately 19% of total income, while the top 1% in Han earned approximately 26%. Income distribution in the Roman Empire, the Han Empire and the Aztec Empire. D1 = First decile (poorest 10%), D10 = Tenth decile (richest 10%). Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58581-0 The research team also noted that leaders during the Roman Empire relied on local officials to manage the...