In the first quarter of 2024, almost two-thirds percent of the total wealth in the United States was owned by the top 10 percent of earners. In comparison, the lowest 50 percent of earners only owned 2.5 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 2023, 7.4 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 follows closely behind China as the country with the most billionaires in the world. Elon Musk alone held around 219 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. 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.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Net Worth Held by the Top 1% (99th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBST01134) from Q3 1989 to Q1 2025 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

Over ** million individuals residing in the United States belonged to the global top one percent of ultra-high net worth individuals worldwide in 2022. China ranked second, with over **** million top one percent wealth holders globally. France followed in third.

In 2023, Switzerland led the ranking of countries with the highest average wealth per adult, with approximately ******* U.S. dollars per person. Luxembourg was ranked second with an average wealth of around ******* U.S. dollars per adult, followed by Hong Kong SAR. However, the figures do not show the actual distribution of wealth. The Gini index shows wealth disparities in countries worldwide. Does wealth guarantee a longer life? As the old adage goes, “money can’t buy you happiness”, yet wealth and income are continuously correlated to the quality of life of individuals in different countries around the world. While greater levels of wealth may not guarantee a higher quality of life, it certainly increases an individual’s chances of having a longer one. Although they do not show the whole picture, life expectancy at birth is higher in the wealthier world regions. Does money bring happiness? A number of the world’s happiest nations also feature in the list of those countries for which average income was highest. Finland, however, which was the happiest country worldwide in 2022, is missing from the list of the top twenty countries with the highest wealth per adult. As such, the explanation for this may be the fact that the larger proportion of the population has access to a high income relative to global levels. Measures of quality of life Criticism of the use of income or wealth as a proxy for quality of life led to the creation of the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Although income is included within the index, it also has other factors taken into account, such as health and education. As such, the countries with the highest human development index can be correlated to those with the highest income levels. That said, none of the above measures seek to assess the physical and mental environmental impact of a high quality of life sourced through high incomes. The happy planet index demonstrates that the inclusion of experienced well-being and ecological footprint in place of income and other proxies for quality of life results in many of the world’s materially poorer nations being included in the happiest.

Graph and download economic data for Net Worth Held by the Top 0.1% (99.9th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBLTP1246) from Q3 1989 to Q1 2025 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

Income from capital was the main source of annual household income for the top percentile of earners in Israel during 2021. That year, earnings from capital reached 3.1 million Israeli shekels on average, about 818,000 U.S. dollars, which represented about 66 percent of annual income. Over the period observed, capital income grew significantly, peaking in 2017 at 4.6 million Israeli shekels, about 1.2 million U.S. dollars. The 2017 spike was due to a government decision to implement a one-time tax incentive to release "trapped" capital gains taxes. On the other hand, employment income accounted for almost 28 percent of household earnings among the wealthiest in the country.

Italy AAHI: Number of Income Earner: One data was reported at 18,257.000 EUR in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 17,637.000 EUR for 2015. Italy AAHI: Number of Income Earner: One data is updated yearly, averaging 17,367.500 EUR from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2016, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18,257.000 EUR in 2016 and a record low of 14,431.000 EUR in 2003. Italy AAHI: Number of Income Earner: One data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.H014: Average Annual Household Income.

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.

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.

Key information about South Korea Monthly Earnings

• South Korea Monthly Earnings stood at 3,200 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the previous figure of 2,724 USD in Nov 2024
• South Korea Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2008 to Dec 2024, with an average number of 2,747 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 3,948 USD in Jan 2022 and a record low of 1,673 USD in Nov 2008

CEIC converts Monthly Earnings into USD. The Ministry of Labour provides Average Monthly Earnings in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Monthly Earnings exclude Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry sectors. Monthly Earnings prior to January 2020 cover businesses with 1 or more employees and are based on the 9th Korean Standard Industry Clasification (KSIC). Monthly Earnings prior to January 2011 cover businesses with 5 or more employees and are based on the 9th Korean Standard Industry Clasification (KSIC).


Further information about South Korea Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, South Korea Population reached 52 million people in Dec 2024
• Unemployment Rate of South Korea dropped to 3 % in Jan 2025
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 63 % in Jan 2025

Key information about Mexico Monthly Earnings

• Mexico Monthly Earnings stood at 908 USD in Feb 2025, compared with the previous figure of 902 USD in Jan 2025
• Mexico Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2000 to Feb 2025, with an average number of 578 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 1,045 USD in May 2024 and a record low of 411 USD in Feb 2000

CEIC calculates Monthly Earning from Average Daily Quote Salaries multiplied by 30 and converts it into USD. Secretary of Labor and Social Security provides Average Daily Quote Salaries in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Further information about Mexico Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, Mexico Population reached 132 million people in Dec 2024
• Unemployment Rate of Mexico increased to 3 % in Jan 2025
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 59 % in Jan 2025

An average of 79% of Bangladeshi households were in the 2 lowest income quintiles (after housing costs were deducted) between April 2019 and March 2022

The rising share of national income taken by the top one percent of earners is a common thread amongst almost all European countries over the past half century. As economic globalization took hold throughout the 1980s and 1990s, European countries experienced de-industrialization due to the emergence of international competitors, mostly in East Asia. At the same time, information technology and finance became much more important for most European economies, while growth in these sectors tends to favor high earners. This rise in inequality is also often also attributed to the ascendence of 'neoliberal' economic and political ideas which prioritized free markets and the privatization of government-owned businesses. Russia: the explosion of inequality after the fall of communismAmong the largest European economies, the Russian Federation stands out as the country which experienced the sharpest increase in inequality, as a small number of 'oligarchs' took control of the major industries after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of communist rule in 1991. The top one percent in Russia increased their share of national income five-fold over the 20 years from 1987 to 2007, when inequality in the country reached its peak as the oligarchs took home over a quarter of the country's income. Turkey: falling share of national income taken by top earners****** has bucked the trend of the rising income share for the richest over this period, as its extremely concentrated income distribution has in fact become somewhat more equitable. The highest earners in Turkey saw their share of national income drop from almost ** percent in the early *****, to a low of ** percent in 2007, after which it has stabilized between ** and ** percent. Western Europe: gradually rising share of national income for the richThe five western European democracies, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, have all seen increases in their top earners' shares of national income over this period. The United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany have in particular seen their shares increase sharply, while Spain and France have experienced a more gradual increase.

In 2023, four Caribbean nations were the countries with the highest gross national income per capita in Latin America and the Caribbean. On average, the national gross income amounted to around 31,990 U.S. dollars per person in the Bahamas, an island country which also had one of the highest gross domestic product per capita in this region. Outside the Caribbean Excluding the Caribbean, the economies with the highest national income per capita are generally located in South America, with the exceptions of Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico. Guyana leads among continental states with a national income of around 20.360 U.S. dollars per person. Gross national income (GNI) is the aggregated sum of the value added by residents in an economy, plus net taxes (minus subsidies) and net receipts of primary income from abroad. The biggest economies Brazil and Mexico are still miles ahead in the race for the biggest economy of Latin America. As of 2023, both nations exceeded the two trillion U.S. dollars mark in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). While Argentina's GDP, third place, slightly surpassed the 600 billion U.S. dollars. Nonetheless, both nations also ranked as the most populated by far in the region.

Facebook probably needs no introduction; nonetheless, here is a quick history of the company. The world’s biggest and most-famous social network was launched by Mark Zuckerberg while he was a...

In 2021, the average income of households among Israel's highest one percent of earners, reached 4.7 million Israeli shekels, about 1.2 million U.S. dollars. Moreover, incomes peaked in 2017, due to a one-time tax incentive introduced by the government to release "trapped" capital gains tax. Overall, the average income of wealthy families in the country increased by 62 percent between 2013 and 2021.

In March 2025, the top one percent of earners in the United Kingdom received an average pay of over 16,000 British pounds per month, compared with the bottom ten percent of earners who earned around 800 pounds a month.

Key information about Israel Monthly Earnings

• Israel Monthly Earnings stood at 3,671 USD in Nov 2024, compared with the previous figure of 3,652 USD in Oct 2024
• Israel Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2005 to Nov 2024, with an average number of 2,543 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 3,774 USD in Jan 2022 and a record low of 1,575 USD in Nov 2005

CEIC converts Monthly Earnings into USD. The Central Bureau of Statistics provides Average Monthly Wages per Employee Job in local currency. The Bank of Israel average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. The Central Bureau of Statistics calculates Average Monthly Wages per employee job rather than per employee. Per employee job is the number of jobs of workers (permanent and temporary) who worked for at least one day during the surveyed month (or were on paid leave) and are on the payroll of establishments or institutions. Average Monthly Wages per employee job is lower than the Average Monthly Wages per employee. Monthly Earnings prior to January 2012 are based on ISIC Rev. 3.


Further information about Israel Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, Israel Population reached 10 million people in Dec 2024
• Unemployment Rate of Israel dropped to 3 % in Dec 2024
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 63 % in Dec 2024

Note: The data release is complete as of August 14th, 2023. 1. (Added April 4th) Canada and Census Divisions = Early April 2023 2. (Added May 1st) Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta Census Subdivisions (CSDs) = Late April 2023 3a. (Added June 8th) Manitoba and Saskatchewan CSDs 3b. (Added June 12th) Quebec CSDs = June 12th 2023 4. (Added June 30th) Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia CSDs = Early July 2023 5. (Added August 14th) Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut CSDs = Early August 2023. For more information, please visit HART.ubc.ca. Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART) This dataset contains 18 tables which draw upon data from the 2021 Census of Canada. The tables are a custom order and contains data pertaining to core housing need and characteristics of households. 17 of the tables each cover a different geography in Canada: one for Canada as a whole, one for all Canadian census divisions (CD), and 15 for all census subdivisions (CSD) across Canada. The last table contains the median income for all geographies. Statistics Canada used these median incomes as the "area median household income (AMHI)," from which they derived some of the data fields within the Shelter Costs/Household Income dimension. Included alongside the data tables is a guide to HART's housing need assessment methodology. This guide is intended to support independent use of HART's custom data both to allow for transparent verification of our analysis, as well as supporting efforts to utilize the data for analysis beyond what HART did. There are many data fields in the data order that we did not use that may be of value for others. The dataset is in Beyond 20/20 (.ivt) format. The Beyond 20/20 browser is required in order to open it. This software can be freely downloaded from the Statistics Canada website: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/public/beyond20-20 (Windows only). For information on how to use Beyond 20/20, please see: http://odesi2.scholarsportal.info/documentation/Beyond2020/beyond20-quickstart.pdf https://wiki.ubc.ca/Library:Beyond_20/20_Guide Custom order from Statistics Canada includes the following dimensions and data fields: Geography: - Country of Canada, all CDs & Country as a whole - All 10 Provinces (Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island (PEI), Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia), all CSDs & each Province as a whole - All 3 Territories (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon), all CSDs & each Territory as a whole Data Quality and Suppression: - The global non-response rate (GNR) is an important measure of census data quality. It combines total non-response (households) and partial non-response (questions). A lower GNR indicates a lower risk of non-response bias and, as a result, a lower risk of inaccuracy. The counts and estimates for geographic areas with a GNR equal to or greater than 50% are not published in the standard products. The counts and estimates for these areas have a high risk of non-response bias, and in most cases, should not be released. - Area suppression is used to replace all income characteristic data with an 'x' for geographic areas with populations and/or number of households below a specific threshold. If a tabulation contains quantitative income data (e.g., total income, wages), qualitative data based on income concepts (e.g., low income before tax status) or derived data based on quantitative income variables (e.g., indexes) for individuals, families or households, then the following rule applies: income characteristic data are replaced with an 'x' for areas where the population is less than 250 or where the number of private households is less than 40. Source: Statistics Canada - When showing count data, Statistics Canada employs random rounding in order to reduce the possibility of identifying individuals within the tabulations. Random rounding transforms all raw counts to random rounded counts. Reducing the possibility of identifying individuals within the tabulations becomes pertinent for very small (sub)populations. All counts greater than 10 are rounded to a base of 5, meaning they will end in either 0 or 5. The random rounding algorithm controls the results and rounds the unit value of the count according to a predetermined frequency. Counts ending in 0 or 5 are not changed. Counts of 10 or less are rounded to a base of 10, meaning they will be rounded to either 10 or zero. Universe: Full Universe: Private Households in Non-farm Non-band Off-reserve Occupied Private Dwellings with Income Greater than zero. Households examined for Core Housing Need: Private, non-farm, non-reserve, owner- or renter-households with incomes greater than zero and shelter-cost-to-income ratios less than 100% are assessed for 'Core Housing Need.' Non-family Households with at least one household maintainer aged 15 to 29 attending school are considered not to be in Core Housing...