Income Growth of the Top 1% vs. the Bottom 50% Since 1980
Since 1980, the top 1% of earners have seen their incomes grow more than three times as fast as the bottom 50%, according to EPI analysis. The gap widened dramatically after 2000 and has continued to diverge.
Data
| Year | Top 1% Income Growth | Bottom 50% Income Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +4% | +0% |
| 1985 | +30% | +5% |
| 1990 | +67% | +8% |
| 1995 | +90% | +15% |
| 2000 | +152% | +23% |
| 2005 | +160% | +28% |
| 2010 | +120% | +15% |
| 2015 | +185% | +37% |
| 2020 | +215% | +45% |
| 2023 | +240% | +55% |