In the first quarter of 2025, almost ********** of the total wealth in the United States was owned by the top 10 percent of earners. In comparison, the lowest ** percent of earners only owned *** percent of the total wealth. Income inequality in the U.S. Despite the idea that the United States is a country where hard work and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps will inevitably lead to success, this is often not the case. In 2024, *** percent of U.S. households had an annual income under 15,000 U.S. dollars. With such a small percentage of people in the United States owning such a vast majority of the country’s wealth, the gap between the rich and poor in America remains stark. The top one percent The United States was the country with the most billionaires in the world in 2025. Elon Musk, with a net worth of *** billion U.S. dollars, was among the richest people in the United States in 2025. Over the past 50 years, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio has exploded, causing the gap between rich and poor to grow, with some economists theorizing that this gap is the largest it has been since right before the Great Depression.

In 2024, the Gini coefficient of household income distribution in the United States was 0.49. This figure was at 0.43 in 1990, which indicates an increase in income inequality in the U.S. over the past 30 years. What is the Gini coefficient? The Gini coefficient, or Gini index, is a statistical measure of economic inequality and wealth distribution among a population. A value of zero represents perfect economic equality, and a value of one represents perfect economic inequality. Within the United States, the District of Columbia and the state of New York had the largest income gap between earners by Gini Index of about 0.52. Utah, on the other hand, had the greatest income equality with a score of 0.42. The Gini coefficient around the world The Gini coefficient is also an effective measure of income inequality around the world. In 2024, income inequality was highest in South Africa. Slovakia and Slovenia were on the other end of the scale, with high levels of income equality.

This table contains data on income inequality. The primary measure is the Gini index – a measure of the extent to which the distribution of income among families/households within a community deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. The index ranges from 0.0, when all families (households) have equal shares of income (implies perfect equality), to 1.0 when one family (household) has all the income and the rest have none (implies perfect inequality). Index data is provided for California and its counties, regions, and large cities/towns. The data is from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. The table is part of a series of indicators in the Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project of the Office of Health Equity. Income is linked to acquiring resources for healthy living. Both household income and the distribution of income across a society independently contribute to the overall health status of a community. On average Western industrialized nations with large disparities in income distribution tend to have poorer health status than similarly advanced nations with a more equitable distribution of income. Approximately 119,200 (5%) of the 2.4 million U.S. deaths in 2000 are attributable to income inequality. The pathways by which income inequality act to increase adverse health outcomes are not known with certainty, but policies that provide for a strong safety net of health and social services have been identified as potential buffers. More information about the data table and a data dictionary can be found in the About/Attachments section.

In the third quarter of 2024, the top ten percent of earners in the United States held over ** percent of total wealth. This is fairly consistent with the second quarter of 2024. Comparatively, the wealth of the bottom ** percent of earners has been slowly increasing since the start of the *****, though remains low. Wealth distribution in the United States by generation can be found here.

Graph and download economic data for Income Inequality in New York County, NY (2020RATIO036061) from 2010 to 2023 about New York County, NY; inequality; New York; NY; income; and USA.

Income Inequality in Anchorage Borough/municipality, AK was 12.19914 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Anchorage Borough/municipality, AK reached a record high of 12.19914 in January of 2023 and a record low of 10.20691 in January of 2011. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Anchorage Borough/municipality, AK - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Income Inequality in Los Angeles County, CA (2020RATIO006037) from 2010 to 2023 about inequality; Los Angeles County, CA; Los Angeles; CA; income; and USA.

Cross-national research on the causes and consequences of income inequality has been hindered by the limitations of the existing inequality datasets: greater coverage across countries and over time has been available from these sources only at the cost of significantly reduced comparability across observations. The goal of the Standardized World Income Inequality Database (SWIID) is to meet the needs of those engaged in broadly cross-national research by maximizing the comparability of income inequality data while maintaining the widest possible coverage across countries and over time. The SWIID’s income inequality estimates are based on thousands of reported Gini indices from hundreds of published sources, including the OECD Income Distribution Database, the Socio-Economic Database for Latin America and the Caribbean generated by CEDLAS and the World Bank, Eurostat, the World Bank’s PovcalNet, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, national statistical offices around the world, and academic studies while minimizing reliance on problematic assumptions by using as much information as possible from proximate years within the same country. The data collected and harmonized by the Luxembourg Income Study is employed as the standard. The SWIID currently incorporates comparable Gini indices of disposable and market income inequality for 199 countries for as many years as possible from 1960 to the present; it also includes information on absolute and relative redistribution.

This is the replication package for "Consumption and Income Inequality in the U.S. Since the 1960s," accepted in 2022 by the Journal of Political Economy.

This file contains data needed to replicate all time series analyses from my book The Politics of Income Inequality in the United States.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents the mean household income for each of the five quintiles in United States, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The dataset highlights the variation in mean household income across quintiles, offering valuable insights into income distribution and inequality.

Key observations

• Income disparities: The mean income of the lowest quintile (20% of households with the lowest income) is 16,840, while the mean income for the highest quintile (20% of households with the highest income) is 285,351. This indicates that the top earners earn 17 times compared to the lowest earners.
• *Top 5%: * The mean household income for the wealthiest population (top 5%) is 515,555, which is 180.67% higher compared to the highest quintile, and 3061.49% higher compared to the lowest quintile.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Income Levels:

• Lowest Quintile
• Second Quintile
• Third Quintile
• Fourth Quintile
• Highest Quintile
• Top 5 Percent

Variables / Data Columns

• Income Level: This column showcases the income levels (As mentioned above).
• Mean Household Income: Mean household income, in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars for the specific income level.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for United States median household income. You can refer the same here

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents median income data over a decade or more for males and females categorized by Total, Full-Time Year-Round (FT), and Part-Time (PT) employment in United States. It showcases annual income, providing insights into gender-specific income distributions and the disparities between full-time and part-time work. The dataset can be utilized to gain insights into gender-based pay disparity trends and explore the variations in income for male and female individuals.

Key observations: Insights from 2023

Based on our analysis ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, we present the following observations: - All workers, aged 15 years and older: In United States, the median income for all workers aged 15 years and older, regardless of work hours, was $48,138 for males and $32,546 for females.

These income figures highlight a substantial gender-based income gap in United States. Women, regardless of work hours, earn 68 cents for each dollar earned by men. This significant gender pay gap, approximately 32%, underscores concerning gender-based income inequality in the country of United States.

- Full-time workers, aged 15 years and older: In United States, among full-time, year-round workers aged 15 years and older, males earned a median income of $67,966, while females earned $54,999, leading to a 19% gender pay gap among full-time workers. This illustrates that women earn 81 cents for each dollar earned by men in full-time roles. This analysis indicates a widening gender pay gap, showing a substantial income disparity where women, despite working full-time, face a more significant wage discrepancy compared to men in the same roles.

Surprisingly, the gender pay gap percentage was higher across all roles, including non-full-time employment, for women compared to men. This suggests that full-time employment offers a more equitable income scenario for women compared to other employment patterns in United States.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. All incomes have been adjusting for inflation and are presented in 2023-inflation-adjusted dollars.

Gender classifications include:

• Male
• Female

Employment type classifications include:

• Full-time, year-round: A full-time, year-round worker is a person who worked full time (35 or more hours per week) and 50 or more weeks during the previous calendar year.
• Part-time: A part-time worker is a person who worked less than 35 hours per week during the previous calendar year.

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column presents the data year. Expected values are 2010 to 2023
• Male Total Income: Annual median income, for males regardless of work hours
• Male FT Income: Annual median income, for males working full time, year-round
• Male PT Income: Annual median income, for males working part time
• Female Total Income: Annual median income, for females regardless of work hours
• Female FT Income: Annual median income, for females working full time, year-round
• Female PT Income: Annual median income, for females working part time

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for United States median household income by race. You can refer the same here

Income Inequality in Jefferson Parish, LA was 17.14348 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Jefferson Parish, LA reached a record high of 17.14348 in January of 2023 and a record low of 13.72062 in January of 2010. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Jefferson Parish, LA - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Income Inequality in Denver County, CO was 17.97779 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Denver County, CO reached a record high of 20.23338 in January of 2010 and a record low of 17.13318 in January of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Denver County, CO - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

Income Inequality in Montgomery County, MD was 15.38085 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Montgomery County, MD reached a record high of 15.38085 in January of 2023 and a record low of 12.80430 in January of 2010. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Montgomery County, MD - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

Income Inequality in Monterey County, CA was 13.93021 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Monterey County, CA reached a record high of 13.93021 in January of 2023 and a record low of 12.47945 in January of 2012. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Monterey County, CA - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

Income Inequality in Pike County, IN was 11.01360 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Pike County, IN reached a record high of 11.01360 in January of 2023 and a record low of 8.56207 in January of 2017. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Pike County, IN - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

Income Inequality in Tooele County, UT was 8.56409 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Tooele County, UT reached a record high of 8.56409 in January of 2023 and a record low of 7.20014 in January of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Tooele County, UT - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

Income Inequality in Colusa County, CA was 15.67394 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Colusa County, CA reached a record high of 15.67394 in January of 2023 and a record low of 9.81079 in January of 2013. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Colusa County, CA - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Income Inequality in Pike County, AR was 19.77949 Ratio in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Income Inequality in Pike County, AR reached a record high of 19.77949 in January of 2023 and a record low of 10.67254 in January of 2018. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Income Inequality in Pike County, AR - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.