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17% of the global population could be considered middle income in 2020. Most people were either low income (51%) or poor (10%).
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Income & Wages
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Digital divide persists even as Americans with lower incomes make gains in tech adoption
The shares of Americans in each income tier who have home broadband or a smartphone have not significantly changed from 2019 to 2021.
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The U.S. differs from most other countries in how it sets its minimum wage
Putting minimum wage policy in the hands of lawmakers is one of several ways in which the U.S. approach stands apart from other countries.
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First-Generation College Graduates Lag Behind Their Peers on Key Economic Outcomes
College graduates without a college-educated parent have lower incomes and less wealth, on average, than those with a parent who has a bachelor’s or higher degree.
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Most Americans support a $15 federal minimum wage
About six-in-ten Americans (62%) say they favor raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, including 40% who strongly back the idea.
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When it comes to raising the minimum wage, most of the action is in cities and states, not Congress
The $7.25 federal minimum wage is used in just 21 states, which collectively account for about 40% of all U.S. wage and salary workers.
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Racial and ethnic gaps in the U.S. persist on key demographic indicators
The charts below allow for comparisons between racial or ethnic groups over time on a range of measures including educational attainment, household income, life expectancy and others. You may select any two groups at a time for comparison.
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59% of U.S. parents with lower incomes say their child may face digital obstacles in schoolwork
38% of parents with children whose K-12 schools closed in the spring said that their child was likely to face digital obstacles in schoolwork.
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Majority of Americans who lost a job or wages due to COVID-19 concerned states will reopen too quickly
68% of those who have lost jobs or taken a pay cut due to COVID-19 are concerned that state governments will lift restrictions too quickly.
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6 facts about economic inequality in the U.S.
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.
