Convert pandas DataFrame to Dictionary in Python (Example)

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to create a dictionary from a pandas DataFrame in the Python programming language.

The article contains one example for the construction of a new dictionary from a pandas DataFrame. More precisely, the article consists of these content blocks:

You’re here for the answer, so let’s get straight to the example!

Example Data & Software Libraries

We first need to load the pandas library, to be able to use the functions that are contained in the library:

import pandas as pd                # Import pandas

Next, we’ll also have to create some exemplifying pandas DataFrame:

data = pd.DataFrame({'x1': [4],    # Create pandas DataFrame
                     'x2': [3],
                     'x3': [2],
                     'x4': [1]})
print(data)                        # Print pandas DataFrame

Have a look at the previous table. It shows that our example data is constituted of one row and four columns.

Example: Create Dictionary from pandas DataFrame Using to_dict() Function

The Python programming code below shows how to convert a pandas DataFrame to a dict object in the Python programming language.

For this task, we can use the to_dict function as shown in the following Python syntax:

my_dict = data.to_dict()           # Convert pandas DataFrame to dict
print(my_dict)                     # Print dictionary
# {'x1': {0: 4}, 'x2': {0: 3}, 'x3': {0: 2}, 'x4': {0: 1}}

As you can see based on the previous Python console output, we have created a new dictionary called my_dict, which contains the values of our input data set.

Video, Further Resources & Summary

Have a look at the following video on the Statistics Globe YouTube channel. I’m explaining the Python programming codes of this page in the video.

Furthermore, you may want to have a look at the other posts on this website. Please find a selection of tutorials about topics such as lists, data conversion, and indices below:

• Convert Dictionary to pandas DataFrame in Python
• Convert Series to pandas DataFrame in Python
• Convert NumPy Array to pandas DataFrame
• Convert List to pandas DataFrame in Python
• Convert Index to Column of pandas DataFrame in Python
• Convert pandas DataFrame to NumPy Array in Python in R
• Convert pandas DataFrame Index to List & NumPy Array in Python
• Convert pandas DataFrame Column to datetime in Python
• Handling DataFrames Using the pandas Library in Python
• Python Programming Examples

You have learned in this article how to transform a pandas DataFrame to a dictionary in the Python programming language. Tell me about it in the comments section below, in case you have further questions.