Wealth Inequality in the United States
Wealth inequality in the United States refers to the unequal distribution of assets, savings, and investments across households. A small share of families hold a large portion of total net worth, while many others have little or no wealth. This gap has widened over recent decades, shaping economic security and opportunity.
Key Data and Trends
Federal Reserve data show that the top 10 percent of families own a large share of U.S. wealth, while the bottom half holds a much smaller share. The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances tracks these disparities, showing rising concentration of assets among higher-income households over time.
Causes and Consequences
Factors such as income gaps, differences in savings rates, homeownership access, and returns on investments contribute to wealth inequality in the United States. Lower wealth can limit access to education, business capital, and financial resilience, while higher wealth can compound over time through asset appreciation and inheritance.
For more on the distribution of household wealth, see the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances at Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
