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.

The YouTube video will be added soon.

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.