About 50.4 percent of the household income of private households in the U.S. were earned by the highest quintile in 2023, which are the upper 20 percent of the workers. In contrast to that, in the same year, only 3.5 percent of the household income was earned by the lowest quintile. This relation between the quintiles is indicative of the level of income inequality in the United States. Income inequalityIncome inequality is a big topic for public discussion in the United States. About 65 percent of U.S. Americans think that the gap between the rich and the poor has gotten larger in the past ten years. This impression is backed up by U.S. census data showing that the Gini-coefficient for income distribution in the United States has been increasing constantly over the past decades for individuals and households. The Gini coefficient for individual earnings of full-time, year round workers has increased between 1990 and 2020 from 0.36 to 0.42, for example. This indicates an increase in concentration of income. In general, the Gini coefficient is calculated by looking at average income rates. A score of zero would reflect perfect income equality and a score of one indicates a society where one person would have all the money and all other people have nothing. Income distribution is also affected by region. The state of New York had the widest gap between rich and poor people in the United States, with a Gini coefficient of 0.51, as of 2019. In global comparison, South Africa led the ranking of the 20 countries with the biggest inequality in income distribution in 2018. South Africa had a score of 63 points, based on the Gini coefficient. On the other hand, the Gini coefficient stood at 16.6 in Azerbaijan, indicating that income is widely spread among the population and not concentrated on a few rich individuals or families. Slovenia led the ranking of the 20 countries with the greatest income distribution equality in 2018.

United States US: Income Share Held by Highest 10% data was reported at 30.600 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 30.100 % for 2013. United States US: Income Share Held by Highest 10% data is updated yearly, averaging 30.100 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.600 % in 2016 and a record low of 25.300 % in 1979. United States US: Income Share Held by Highest 10% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

United States US: Income Share Held by Lowest 10% data was reported at 1.700 % in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.700 % for 2013. United States US: Income Share Held by Lowest 10% data is updated yearly, averaging 1.800 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.300 % in 1979 and a record low of 1.700 % in 2016. United States US: Income Share Held by Lowest 10% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

This table presents data on the labour income share and the components used to calculate it. The labour income share is a measure of the distribution of earned income between providers of labour (employees and the self-employed) and providers of capital.

Data available from: 1995.

Status of the figures: Data from 1995 up to and including 2020 are final. Data of 2021 and 2022 are provisional. Since this table has been discontinued, provisional data will not become final.

Changes as of June 24th 2024: None. This table has been discontinued. Statistics Netherlands has carried out a revision of the national accounts. The Dutch national accounts are recently revised. New statistical sources, methods and concepts are implemented in the national accounts, in order to align the picture of the Dutch economy with all underlying source data and international guidelines for the compilation of the national accounts. For further information see section 3.

When will new figures be published? Not applicable anymore.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Labour Compensation in GDP at Current National Prices for United States (LABSHPUSA156NRUG) from 1950 to 2019 about compensation, labor, GDP, and USA.

Since 2000, the share of the world's total labor income before tax earned by women fluctuated between 27.91 percent to 28.25 percent. This is significantly less than their male counterparts. There are also differences between the world regions.

Chile CL: Income Share Held by Lowest 10% data was reported at 2.300 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.700 % for 2020. Chile CL: Income Share Held by Lowest 10% data is updated yearly, averaging 1.550 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2022, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.300 % in 2022 and a record low of 1.200 % in 1994. Chile CL: Income Share Held by Lowest 10% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Chile – Table CL.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

The average for 2021 based on 71 countries was 27.53 percent. The highest value was in Colombia: 43.7 percent and the lowest value was in Slovakia: 19.1 percent. The indicator is available from 1963 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

As of 2023, Spain was the major economy in Europe with the highest share of national income taken home by the bottom 50 percent of earners. The country has seen a gradual increase in the share taken by the poorest 50 percent since the 1990s, with this share increasing from roughly 20 percent to over 21 percent in 2023. In stark contrast, Russia is the country which has seen the greatest decrease in the share of income taken by the bottom half. With the end of communist rule in 1991, the income of the poorest Russians nosedived from around 28 percent of national income, to less than 10 percent in 1996. Since then, the bottom half's share in Russia has increased, being approximately 16 percent in 2023.

Germany DE: Income Share Held by Second 20% data was reported at 12.800 % in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.100 % for 2019. Germany DE: Income Share Held by Second 20% data is updated yearly, averaging 13.100 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2020, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.700 % in 1996 and a record low of 12.800 % in 2020. Germany DE: Income Share Held by Second 20% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Regression of income distribution measures on GDP and capital terms by LSDV and POLS.

Displacement risk indicator showing the distribution of renter households and renter units between different income brackets, covering the entire city from 2006 to the most recent year of data available.

In 2023, just over 50 percent of Americans had an annual household income that was less than 75,000 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 80,610 U.S. dollars in 2023. Income and wealth in the United States After the economic recession in 2009, income inequality in the U.S. is more prominent across many metropolitan areas. The Northeast region is regarded as one of the wealthiest in the country. Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts were among the states with the highest median household income in 2020. In terms of income by race and ethnicity, the average income of Asian households was 94,903 U.S. dollars in 2020, while the median income for Black households was around half of that figure. What is the U.S. poverty threshold? The U.S. Census Bureau annually updates its list of poverty levels. Preliminary estimates show that the average poverty threshold for a family of four people was 26,500 U.S. dollars in 2021, which is around 100 U.S. dollars less than the previous year. There were an estimated 37.9 million people in poverty across the United States in 2021, which was around 11.6 percent of the population. Approximately 19.5 percent of those in poverty were Black, while 8.2 percent were white.

Chad TD: Income Share Held by Lowest 20% data was reported at 6.900 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.100 % for 2018. Chad TD: Income Share Held by Lowest 20% data is updated yearly, averaging 6.600 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2022, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.100 % in 2018 and a record low of 4.900 % in 2011. Chad TD: Income Share Held by Lowest 20% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Chad – Table TD.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Robust determinants of income distribution within countries.

Graph and download economic data for Households and Nonprofit Organizations; Net Worth as a Percentage of Disposable Personal Income, Level (HNONWPDPI) from Q4 1946 to Q4 2024 about net worth, disposable, nonprofit organizations, personal income, Net, percent, personal, households, income, and USA.

Income share held by lowest 20% in Argentina was reported at 5.4 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Argentina - Income share held by lowest 20% - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Shares of gross domestic income: Compensation of employees, paid: Wage and salary accruals (A4102E1A156NBEA) from 1929 to 2023 about Shares of GDI, accruals, GDI, paid, compensation, salaries, wages, income, employment, and USA.

Average and share of income by income concept and after-tax quintiles.

Income share held by highest 20% of United Kingdom dipped by 0.75% from 40.00 % in 2020 to 39.70 % in 2021. Since the 2.51% rise in 2018, income share held by highest 20% decreased by 2.70% in 2021. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.