The U.S.' Bottom 50% Held Just 2.4% Of The Country's Wealth in 2024 🏦

What We're Showing

The share of total net worth held by the bottom 50% of the U.S. from 1990 to Q3 2024.

Data comes from the Federal Reserve and is updated as of Dec. 20, 2024.

The Bottom 50%’s Shrinking Share

Wealth inequality remains a significant issue in the U.S., with the bottom half of the population holding only a small fraction of total wealth, despite some recovery from its 2011 low.

The bottom 50% of Americans held just 2.4% of U.S. wealth in 2024, down from 3.5% in 1990 and hitting an all-time low of 0.4% in 2011. The bottom 50% has experienced a steady decline in its share of the nation's total net worth, dropping quarter-over-quarter from 2.7% in 2022.

In terms of financial assets, the top 1% controlled nearly half (49.9%) of all equities and mutual fund shares in 2024, while the bottom 50% held only 1%, according to Federal Reserve data.