WEALTH AND INCOME GAP

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what years has the difference between that top and bottom been in terms of wealth and income gap

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LikeDislikeYears of the Wealth and Income Gap in the U.S.The gap between the top and bottom in U.S. wealth and income has been relatively small from the late 1940s through the early 1970s, then widened sharply from the 1970s onward, reaching record levels by the 2020s Center on Budget and Policy Priorities+2.Historical timeline1940s–1970s: “Great Compression” – smaller gap
- After World War II, incomes grew rapidly and broadly across the income ladder, roughly doubling in inflation‑adjusted terms from the late 1940s to early 1970s Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- The ratio between top and bottom incomes was substantial but stable; wealth concentration was much lower than today Center on Budget and Policy Priorities+1.
- Gini coefficients for income were relatively low, peaking at 34.7 in 1980 after a decline from 1965–1975 economicsinsider.com.
- Wealth inequality was also lower: the top 1% held a smaller share of total wealth than in later decades economicsinsider.com.
1970s–1980s: Gap begins to widen
- From the late 1970s, income growth slowed for middle‑ and lower‑income households while top incomes continued to rise Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- The top 1% share of income and wealth began climbing toward levels not seen since the 1920s Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- Gini for income rose from the 1980 low, and wealth concentration increased economicsinsider.com.
1980s–2000s: “Great Divergence” – rapid widening
- Inequality accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s, with the top 1% share of income surpassing 20% and wealth concentration at record highs Center on Budget and Policy Priorities+1.
- By 2000, the top 1% held over 30% of U.S. wealth economicsinsider.com.
- Gini for income reached ~41.5 by 2015 economicsinsider.com.
2010s–2020s: Record levels
- Income inequality hit record highs in 2018 (Gini 0.485) and remained elevated in 2020–2021 Wikipedia.
- By 2025, the top 1% held nearly 32% of total U.S. wealth, while the bottom 50% held only ~2.5% economicsinsider.com.
- The ratio of top‑to‑middle wealth in 2022 was 71:1, compared to 36:1 in 1963 apps.urban.org.
Key turning points
- 1948–1973: Shared prosperity, stable gap Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- 1973 onward: Gap widens as top incomes outpace others Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- 1980: Lowest Gini in 1965–1980 period, but trend reverses economicsinsider.com.
- 1985–2000: Rapid rise in top share of income and wealth Center on Budget and Policy Priorities+1.
- 2010–2025: Record inequality in both income and wealth Wikipedia+1.
In short: The “top–bottom” gap was small and stable from the late 1940s to early 1970s, then expanded steadily from the 1970s, accelerating in the 1980s–2000s, and peaking in the 2010s–2020s Center on Budget and Policy Priorities+3.Show lessCenter on Budget and Policy PrioritiesA Guide to Statistics on Historical Trends in Income Inequalityhttps://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-on-historical-trends-in-income-inequalityWikipediaIncome inequality in the United States – Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_inequality_in_the_United_Stateseconomicsinsider.comHow U.S. Wealth Inequality Changed from 1965 to 2025https://economicsinsider.com/us-wealth-inequality-1965-2025/Show all