What Are US Wealth Percentiles?
US wealth percentiles divide households into 100 equal groups based on net worth, which is total assets minus debts. They show where a household stands compared to others in the country.
How Wealth Percentiles Are Calculated
Government agencies use survey and administrative data to estimate the distribution of net worth. Each percentile represents the threshold below which a given percentage of households fall. For example, the 90th percentile means 90% of households have less net worth.
Key Takeaways From US Wealth Percentile Data
Data from the Federal Reserve shows that the top 1% of US households hold a large share of total wealth, while the bottom 50% hold a much smaller share. Percentile tables help compare wealth across age, race, and region.
For the latest tables and methodology, see the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances at Survey of Consumer Finances.
