BEIJING, Jan. 20 -- The Gini coefficient, an index reflecting the rich-poor gap, dropped for the sixth consecutive year in China since a peak recorded in 2008, new data showed Tuesday.

The index stood at 0.469 in 2014, dropping for six years in a row since the index hit its 0.491 high in 2008, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement.

Last year, the average disposable income of Chinese residents rose 8 percent in real terms to 20,167 yuan (3,294 U.S. dollars), faster than a 7.4 percent economic growth, the NBS said.

The disposable income of rural residents increased 9.2 percent year on year, while that for urban residents rose 6.8 percent.