Income inequality is greater among Chinese Americans than any other Asian origin group in the U.S.
Among all Asian origin groups in the U.S., Chinese American households had the highest income inequality in 2022.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Among all Asian origin groups in the U.S., Chinese American households had the highest income inequality in 2022.
68% of Black adults in the U.S. say they do not have enough income to lead the kind of life they want, but a majority are optimistic that they will one day.
Amid rising inequality, many Americans feel that the U.S. economic system is unfair and generally favors powerful special interests.
Earnings overall have held steady through the pandemic in part because lower-wage workers experienced steeper job losses.
About one-in-ten Asian Americans live in poverty. Pew Research Center conducted 18 focus groups in 12 languages to explore their stories and experiences.
Across 34 countries, a median of 65% said in 2019 they felt pessimistic about reducing the gap between the rich and poor in their country.
Black Americans support significant reforms to or complete overhauls of several U.S. institutions to ensure fair treatment. Yet even as they assess inequality and ideas about progress, many are pessimistic about whether society and institutions will change in ways that would reduce racism.
About one-in-four Black households and one-in-seven Hispanic households had no wealth or were in debt in 2021, compared with about one-in-ten U.S. households overall.
Over the past 50 years, the highest-earning 20% of U.S. households have steadily brought in a larger share of the country’s total income.
Millennials are the largest adult generation in the United States, and the American family continues to change.
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
© 2024 Pew Research Center