China's rural wealth gap is approaching a warning level set by the United Nations, Xinhua News Agency said on Tuesday.

The Gini coefficient in rural areas was 0.3949 last year, Xinhua said, citing a survey by Central China Normal University's Center for China Rural Studies. The index ranges from 0 to 1, and 0.4 is used as a predictor for disturbances.

Including urban areas, China's Gini coefficient is probably "well above" 0.4, Xinhua said, citing Deng Dacai, the institute's deputy chief. The government hasn't released a Gini figure including both rural and urban areas since 2000, when it was 0.412, Xinhua said.

China Daily- Agencies