How has wealth distribution in the US changed over time?
The top 20% of Americans by income have seen their share of wealth increase the most between 1990 and 2022. In the final quarter of 2022, this group held 71% of the nation’s wealth – up from 61% in 1990.
The highest-earning 1% of Americans drove this growth: at the end of 2022, their share of the country’s wealth grew to 26% from 17% in 1990 — nine percentage points. Across those 32 years, the rest of the top quintile saw their share of wealth grow to 45% from 44% — a one percentage point gain.
According to USAFacts calculations using data from the Internal Revenue Service and Census Bureau, the total market income for the top 1% averaged $3.4 million in 2021. Comparatively, the bottom 20% have seen their share of wealth remain at around 3% over the past three decades.