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Income Distribution <from another online source> Here is a summary of the statistics for the distribution of wealth in the US as of 1998, the most recent information available that has been fully analyzed: % of US Population % of Wealth Owned ========================================================== Top 1% 38.1% Top 96-99% 21.3% Top 90-95% 11.5% Top 80-89% 12.5% Top 60-79% 11.9% General 40-59% 4.5% Bottom 40% 0.2% You can find this illustrated in a graph at United for a Fair Economy (UFE): http://www.ufenet.org/research/wealth_charts.html You can also find additional graphs and charts on US income trends at the UFE site: http://www.ufenet.org/research/income_charts.html These figures are based on research by New York University Economics Professor Edward N. Wolff. In his April 2000 working paper titled "Recent Trends in Wealth Ownership, 1983-1998", Wolff used statistics from the Surveys of Consumer Finances to address several issues surrounding the concentration of wealth in America. Working Paper No. 300 http://www.levy.org/docs/wrkpap/papers/300.html According to Wolff's figures, about 70 percent of the wealth in the US is in the hands of 10 percent of population. He also notes that the disparity between the distribution of wealth rose from 1989 to 1998, although the pace of the inequity was slower in the 1990s. In addition to the Surveys of Consumer Finances, there are two other major sources of data on American wealth: The U.S. Bureau of the Census Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP): http://www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/pubsmain.htm The Institute for Social Research's Panel Survey of Income Dynamics (PSID): http://stat0.isr.umich.edu/psid/data-center/dcmain.html The data and methodology for each of these sources varies. As a result, the distribution statistics produced by each of these sources may also vary. For the purposes of his analysis, Wolff defined wealth as "marketable wealth" or "net worth," meaning the current value of all marketable assets (real estate, cash, savings, bonds, stocks, pension plans, trust funds, etc.) minus the current value of debts. He excluded durable goods like automobiles and house wares and social security benefits from his definition of marketable assets. While researching your question I found other graphs that detail the disparities in income. It's important to remember that although wealth and income are strongly correlated, they are different. More factors are taken into consideration when calculating wealth and as a result, it is probably a more accurate indicator of how money is distributed in the US. Here are some additional resources on wealth and income: US Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/dusd/MAB/wp233.pdf 1999 report on the wealth of US families US Census Bureau -- Census 2000 http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsTable? _lang=en&_vt_name=DEC_1990_STF3_DP4&_geo_id=01000US Detailed table on income and poverty statistics http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/sf2.html Additional statistics on households and families arranged by state Understanding the US Distribution of Wealth http://minneapolisfed.org/research/qr/qr2122.pdf Comprehensive report based on 1997 data Century Foundation http://www.policyideas.org/Issues/Social_Economic/Household_Wealth.pdf Graphs and analysis based on 1998 US Census data Review of Income and Wealth http://www.iariw.org/articlelinks.htm Survey of Consumer Finances http://www.icpsr.umich.edu:8080/ABSTRACTS/03155.xml?format=ICPSR http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/oss/oss2/2001/scf2001.information.html Comprehensive survey on consumer income, assets, debt, and major transactions Unequal Income Distribution in the United States http://home.rochester.rr.com/jerryfisher/income.htm This is based on 1995 and 1996 data. Scroll down to the bottom for information on distribution by country Center on Budget and Policy Priorities http://www.cbpp.org/2-26-01tax.htm IRS data on after-tax income trends The L-Curve By David Chandler http://www.davidchandler.com/lcurve/ Based on 1997 data income. Includes easy-to-understand graphs on income distribution Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences http://datadump.icaap.org/cgi-bin/glossary/SocialDict/SocialDict?term=LORENZ% 20CURVE A definition of the L-Curve Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences http://datadump.icaap.org/cgi-bin/glossary/SocialDict/SocialDict?term=GINI% 20COEFFICIENT A definition of the Gini Coefficient If you are looking for a geographical breakdown of the distribution of wealth in the US, here are some additional links: US Census Bureau http://landview.census.gov/prod/1/pop/p60-189.pdf An analysis of income, poverty and benefits based on results from the 1990 census Center on Budget and Policy Priorities http://www.epinet.org/studies/pullingapart/1-18-00sfp.pdf A January 2000 state-by-state analysis of income trends. Based on data from 1978 to 1988 Forbes.com http://www.forbes.com/2001/06/22/2001maps.html Search for the world's richest people and click on the map for more information