Income Inequality (1967-1998) - Table 2
Table 2. Household Shares of Aggregate Income
by Fifths of the Income Distribution: 1967-1998
Fifths Top
Year Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest 5 Percent
1998 3.6 9.0 15.0 23.2 49.2 21.4
1997 3.6 8.9 15.0 23.2 49.4 21.7
1996 3.7 9.0 15.1 23.3 49.0 21.4
1995 3.7 9.1 15.2 23.3 48.7 21.0
1994 3.6 8.9 15.0 23.4 49.1 21.2
1993 3.6 9.0 15.1 23.5 48.9 21.0
1992 3.8 9.4 15.8 24.2 46.9 18.6
1991 3.8 9.6 15.9 24.2 46.5 18.1
1990 3.9 9.6 15.9 24.0 46.6 18.6
1989 3.8 9.5 15.8 24.0 46.8 18.9
1988 3.8 9.6 16.0 24.3 46.3 18.3
1987 3.8 9.6 16.1 24.3 46.2 18.2
1986 3.9 9.7 16.2 24.5 45.7 17.5
1985 4.0 9.7 16.3 24.6 45.3 17.0
1984 4.1 9.9 16.4 24.7 44.9 16.5
1983 4.1 10.0 16.5 24.7 44.7 16.4
1982 4.1 10.1 16.6 24.7 44.5 16.2
1981 4.2 10.2 16.8 25.0 43.8 15.6
1980 4.3 10.3 16.9 24.9 43.7 15.8
1979 4.2 10.3 16.9 24.7 44.0 16.4
1978 4.3 10.3 16.9 24.8 43.7 16.2
1977 4.4 10.3 17.0 24.8 43.6 16.1
1976 4.4 10.4 17.1 24.8 43.3 16.0
1975 4.4 10.5 17.1 24.8 43.2 15.9
1974 4.4 10.6 17.1 24.7 43.1 15.9
1973 4.2 10.5 17.1 24.6 43.6 16.6
1972 4.1 10.5 17.1 24.5 43.9 17.0
1971 4.1 10.6 17.3 24.5 43.5 16.7
1970 4.1 10.8 17.4 24.5 43.3 16.6
1969 4.1 10.9 17.5 24.5 43.0 16.6
1968 4.2 11.1 17.5 24.4 42.8 16.6
1967 4.0 10.8 17.3 24.2 43.8 17.5
Note: Change in data collection methodology suggests pre-1993 and post-1992
estimates are not strictly comparable (A New Mode of Data Collection).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey, March 1968-1999
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division
Last Revised: August 12, 2008
