Power Distance Index

Hofstede’s Power distance Index measures the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society’s level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders.

For example, Germany has a 35 on the cultural scale of Hofstede’s analysis. Compared to Arab countries where the power distance is very high (80) and Austria where it very low (11), Germany is somewhat in the middle. Germany does not have a large gap between the wealthy and the poor, but have a strong belief in equality for each citizen. Germans have the opportunity to rise in society.

On the other hand, the power distance in the United States scores a 40 on the cultural scale. The United States exhibits a more unequal distribution of wealth compared to German society. As the years go by it seems that the distance between the ‘have’ and ‘have-nots’ grows larger and larger.

Power Distance Index | Individualism | Masculinity | Uncertainty Avoidance Index | Long-Term Orientation

Power Distance Index
1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120

Country PDI IDV MAS UAI LTO

Malaysia 104 26 50 36
Guatemala 95 6 37 101
Panama 95 11 44 86
Philippines 94 32 64 44 19
Mexico 81 30 69 82
Venezuela 81 12 73 76
China 80 20 66 40 118
Egypt 80 38 52 68
Iraq 80 38 52 68
Kuwait 80 38 52 68
Lebanon 80 38 52 68
Libya 80 38 52 68
Saudi Arabia 80 38 52 68
United Arab Emirates 80 38 52 68
Ecuador 78 8 63 67
Indonesia 78 14 46 48
Ghana 77 20 46 54 16
India 77 48 56 40 61
Nigeria 77 20 46 54 16
Sierra Leone 77 20 46 54 16
Singapore 74 20 48 8 48
Brazil 69 38 49 76 65
France 68 71 43 86
Hong Kong 68 25 57 29 96
Poland 68 60 64 93
Colombia 67 13 64 80
El Salvador 66 19 40 94
Turkey 66 37 45 85
Belgium 65 75 54 94
Ethiopia 64 27 41 52 25
Kenya 64 27 41 52 25
Peru 64 16 42 87
Tanzania 64 27 41 52 25
Thailand 64 20 34 64 56
Zambia 64 27 41 52 25
Chile 63 23 28 86
Portugal 63 27 31 104
Uruguay 61 36 38 100
Greece 60 35 57 112
South Korea 60 18 39 85 75
Iran 58 41 43 59
Taiwan 58 17 45 69 87
Czech Republic 57 58 57 74
Spain 57 51 42 86
Pakistan 55 14 50 70
Japan 54 46 95 92 80
Italy 50 76 70 75
Argentina 49 46 56 86
South Africa 49 65 63 49
Hungary 46 55 88 82
Jamaica 45 39 68 13
United States 40 91 62 46 29
Netherlands 38 80 14 53 44
Australia 36 90 61 51 31
Costa Rica 35 15 21 86
Germany 35 67 66 65 31
United Kingdom 35 89 66 35 25
Switzerland 34 68 70 58
Finland 33 63 26 59
Norway 31 69 8 50 20
Sweden 31 71 5 29 33
Ireland 28 70 68 35
New Zealand 22 79 58 49 30
Denmark 18 74 16 23
Israel 13 54 47 81
Austria 11 55 79 70