What Is a Wealth Distribution Percentile?
A wealth distribution percentile shows the share of total wealth held by the bottom or top percentage of households, often based on net worth. It is a core metric for comparing inequality across countries and over time. The latest available data from major global and U.S. surveys are used to calculate these figures, with updates typically lagging by a few years. For example, the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances and the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report provide the most cited percentile breakdowns.
Wealth percentiles differ from income percentiles because they include assets minus debts, such as real estate, stocks, and business equity. This makes the top percentiles especially concentrated, as financial assets compound over time. Policymakers and researchers use these numbers to study mobility, tax policy, and the role of large asset holders. The most recent global and U.S. reports show that a small share of households controls a large share of total net worth.
Latest Global Wealth Percentile Data
According to the most recent Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report, the top 10 percent of adults globally own roughly 75 to 80 percent of total household wealth, while the bottom 50 percent own less than 1 percent. The report defines wealth as net assets, including financial and non-financial assets minus debts, and uses median figures to avoid distortion by extreme outliers. Regional differences are stark, with North America and Europe having the highest concentration at the top, while parts of Africa and Asia have much lower median wealth per adult.
In the latest available edition, the report shows that the global median adult wealth is around a specific modest figure, often below $10,000, while the mean is significantly higher due to wealthy households. The top 1 percent of adults globally hold a disproportionate share, with many of them concentrated in a few countries. For deeper context on how these numbers are compiled, you can review the methodology at the Credit Suisse Research Institute page Credit Suisse Research Institute.
U.S. Wealth Percentile Trends and Concentration
The most recent U.S. data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances show that the top 1 percent of families own a large share of total household net worth, while the bottom 50 percent hold a much smaller share. The latest release includes updated figures on median net worth, mean net worth, and the distribution across age and income groups. These numbers highlight the gap between the typical household and the top tier, with financial assets and business equity driving much of the concentration.
Recent Fed data also show that the top 10 percent of families hold the majority of stocks, mutual funds, and retirement accounts, which amplifies wealth gaps over time. The share of wealth held by the bottom 50 percent has remained relatively small, even as asset prices have risen. For a broader view of wealth concentration among major U.S. companies and billionaires, you can explore the Forbes billionaires list Forbes billionaires list.