United States — Share of household income: richest, middle, poorest
Share of total US household income received by the richest 20 %, the middle 60 % (second, third and fourth quintiles), the poorest 20 % and the top 5 % (part of the richest 20 %). Money income before taxes, excluding capital gains and non-cash benefits (Census CPS ASEC, historical table H-2).· Share of the total money income of US households (before taxes, excluding capital gains and non-cash benefits such as Medicaid or food stamps) received by each group, Census CPS ASEC survey. Households are ranked by income and cut into fifths; the « middle 60 % » adds the second, third and fourth fifths; the top 5 % is part of the richest 20 %. In 1993 the survey raised its income caps: part of that year's jump at the top (+2.4 points for the top 5 %) is a method effect. It changed method again in 2013 and 2017 (the newer figures are kept) and does not capture very high incomes well — tax-based sources (WID, CBO) show a larger top share.
