Table IE-1. Selected Measures of Household Income Dispersion:
1967 to 2000
(Households as of March of the following year. Income in current
and 2000 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1/)
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Measures of Income Dispersion 2000 1999 1998 1997
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 17,955 17,196 16,116 15,400
50th (median) 42,000 40,816 38,885 37,005
80th percentile upper limit 81,960 79,375 75,000 71,500
95th percentile lower limit 145,526 142,021 132,199 126,550
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 17,955 17,774 17,026 16,523
50th (median) 42,000 42,188 41,080 39,703
80th percentile upper limit 81,960 82,043 79,233 76,712
95th percentile lower limit 145,526 146,795 139,661 135,775
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 8.11 8.26 8.20 8.22
95th/50th 3.46 3.48 3.40 3.42
80th/50th 1.95 1.94 1.93 1.93
80th/20th 4.56 4.62 4.65 4.64
20th/50th 0.43 0.42 0.41 0.42
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 10,190 9,940 9,223 8,872
Second quintile 25,334 24,436 23,288 22,098
Third quintile 42,361 40,879 38,967 37,177
Fourth quintile 65,729 63,555 60,266 57,582
Highest quintile 141,620 135,401 127,529 122,764
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 10,190 10,274 9,744 9,519
Second quintile 25,334 25,258 24,602 23,709
Third quintile 42,361 42,253 41,166 39,887
Fourth quintile 65,729 65,691 63,668 61,780
Highest quintile 141,620 139,953 134,727 131,713
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6
Second quintile 8.9 8.9 9.0 8.9
Third quintile 14.9 14.9 15.0 15.0
Fourth quintile 23.0 23.2 23.2 23.2
Highest quintile 49.6 49.4 49.2 49.4
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.460 0.457 0.456 0.459
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1996 1995 25/ 1994 24/ 1993 23/
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 14,768 14,400 13,426 12,967
50th (median) 35,492 34,076 32,264 31,241
80th percentile upper limit 68,015 65,124 62,841 60,300
95th percentile lower limit 119,540 113,000 109,821 104,639
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 16,208 16,271 15,600 15,453
50th (median) 38,953 38,503 37,489 37,230
80th percentile upper limit 74,647 73,585 73,018 71,859
95th percentile lower limit 131,197 127,681 127,606 124,698
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 8.09 7.85 8.18 8.07
95th/50th 3.37 3.32 3.40 3.35
80th/50th 1.92 1.91 1.95 1.93
80th/20th 4.61 4.52 4.68 4.65
20th/50th 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 8,596 8,350 7,762 7,412
Second quintile 21,097 20,397 19,224 18,656
Third quintile 35,486 34,106 32,385 31,272
Fourth quintile 54,922 52,429 50,395 48,599
Highest quintile 115,514 109,411 105,945 101,253
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 9,434 9,435 9,019 8,833
Second quintile 23,154 23,047 22,337 22,232
Third quintile 38,946 38,537 37,630 37,267
Fourth quintile 60,278 59,241 58,556 57,915
Highest quintile 126,778 123,626 123,102 120,663
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6
Second quintile 9.0 9.1 8.9 9.0
Third quintile 15.1 15.2 15.0 15.1
Fourth quintile 23.3 23.3 23.4 23.5
Highest quintile 49.0 48.7 49.1 48.9
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.455 0.450 0.456 0.454
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1992 22/ 1991 1990 1989
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 12,600 12,588 12,500 12,096
50th (median) 30,636 30,126 29,943 28,906
80th percentile upper limit 58,007 56,760 55,205 53,710
95th percentile lower limit 99,020 96,400 94,748 91,750
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 15,465 15,915 16,469 16,798
50th (median) 37,602 38,089 39,451 40,142
80th percentile upper limit 71,196 71,763 72,734 74,588
95th percentile lower limit 121,534 121,880 124,832 127,414
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 7.86 7.66 7.58 7.59
95th/50th 3.23 3.20 3.16 3.17
80th/50th 1.89 1.88 1.84 1.86
80th/20th 4.60 4.51 4.42 4.44
20th/50th 0.41 0.42 0.42 0.42
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 7,288 7,263 7,195 7,021
Second quintile 18,181 18,149 18,030 17,401
Third quintile 30,631 30,147 29,781 28,925
Fourth quintile 47,021 45,957 44,901 43,753
Highest quintile 91,110 88,130 87,137 85,529
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 8,945 9,183 9,480 9,750
Second quintile 22,315 22,946 23,755 24,165
Third quintile 37,596 38,115 39,237 40,168
Fourth quintile 57,712 58,104 59,158 60,760
Highest quintile 111,826 111,424 114,805 118,775
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.8
Second quintile 9.4 9.6 9.6 9.5
Third quintile 15.8 15.9 15.9 15.8
Fourth quintile 24.2 24.2 24.0 24.0
Highest quintile 46.9 46.5 46.6 46.8
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.434 0.428 0.428 0.431
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1988 1987 21/ 1986 1985 20/
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 11,382 10,800 10,358 10,000
50th (median) 27,225 26,061 24,897 23,618
80th percentile upper limit 50,593 48,363 46,120 43,809
95th percentile lower limit 85,640 80,928 78,226 73,263
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 16,568 16,371 16,274 16,004
50th (median) 39,629 39,504 39,117 37,798
80th percentile upper limit 73,644 73,311 72,462 70,111
95th percentile lower limit 124,659 122,674 122,906 117,248
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 7.52 7.49 7.55 7.33
95th/50th 3.15 3.11 3.14 3.10
80th/50th 1.86 1.86 1.85 1.85
80th/20th 4.45 4.48 4.45 4.38
20th/50th 0.42 0.41 0.42 0.42
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 6,504 6,167 5,944 5,797
Second quintile 16,317 15,584 14,961 14,330
Third quintile 27,291 26,055 24,979 23,735
Fourth quintile 41,254 39,383 37,622 35,694
Highest quintile 78,759 74,897 70,340 65,841
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 9,467 9,348 9,339 9,277
Second quintile 23,751 23,623 23,506 22,933
Third quintile 39,725 39,495 39,246 37,985
Fourth quintile 60,050 59,699 59,110 57,124
Highest quintile 114,643 113,532 110,516 105,370
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 3.8 3.8 3.9 4.0
Second quintile 9.6 9.6 9.7 9.7
Third quintile 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3
Fourth quintile 24.3 24.3 24.5 24.6
Highest quintile 46.3 46.2 45.7 45.3
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.427 0.426 0.425 0.419
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1984 1983 19/ 1982 1981
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 9,600 9,000 8,520 8,160
50th (median) 22,415 20,885 20,171 19,074
80th percentile upper limit 41,600 38,898 36,670 34,600
95th percentile lower limit 69,590 64,600 61,107 56,300
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 15,911 15,560 15,347 15,595
50th (median) 37,150 36,108 36,333 36,454
80th percentile upper limit 68,946 67,251 66,052 66,128
95th percentile lower limit 115,336 111,688 110,069 107,601
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 7.25 7.18 7.17 6.90
95th/50th 3.10 3.09 3.03 2.95
80th/50th 1.86 1.86 1.82 1.81
80th/20th 4.33 4.32 4.30 4.24
20th/50th 0.43 0.43 0.42 0.43
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 5,606 5,239 5,003 4,836
Second quintile 13,634 12,796 12,238 11,589
Third quintile 22,547 21,105 20,195 19,141
Fourth quintile 33,944 31,667 30,026 28,512
Highest quintile 61,648 57,303 54,164 49,942
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 9,291 9,058 9,012 9,243
Second quintile 22,596 22,123 22,044 22,149
Third quintile 37,369 36,489 36,376 36,582
Fourth quintile 56,258 54,750 54,084 54,492
Highest quintile 102,173 99,072 97,563 95,450
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2
Second quintile 9.9 10.0 10.1 10.2
Third quintile 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.8
Fourth quintile 24.7 24.7 24.7 25.0
Highest quintile 44.9 44.7 44.5 43.8
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.415 0.414 0.412 0.406
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1980 1979 18/ 1978 1977
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 7,556 7,009 6,384 5,813
50th (median) 17,710 16,461 15,064 13,572
80th percentile upper limit 31,700 29,097 26,425 24,100
95th percentile lower limit 51,500 47,465 42,572 38,961
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 15,810 16,310 16,286 15,839
50th (median) 37,055 38,305 38,430 36,979
80th percentile upper limit 66,327 67,710 67,413 65,665
95th percentile lower limit 107,756 110,452 108,606 106,156
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 6.82 6.77 6.67 6.70
95th/50th 2.91 2.88 2.83 2.87
80th/50th 1.79 1.77 1.75 1.78
80th/20th 4.20 4.15 4.14 4.15
20th/50th 0.43 0.43 0.42 0.43
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 4,483 4,114 3,807 3,513
Second quintile 10,819 10,021 9,112 8,291
Third quintile 17,807 16,495 15,010 13,671
Fourth quintile 26,219 24,193 21,980 20,018
Highest quintile 46,053 42,990 38,791 35,091
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 9,380 9,573 9,712 9,572
Second quintile 22,637 23,319 23,246 22,590
Third quintile 37,258 38,384 38,292 37,249
Fourth quintile 54,859 56,298 56,073 54,543
Highest quintile 96,359 100,039 98,960 95,612
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.4
Second quintile 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3
Third quintile 16.9 16.9 16.9 17.0
Fourth quintile 24.9 24.7 24.8 24.8
Highest quintile 43.7 44.0 43.7 43.6
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.403 0.404 0.402 0.402
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1976 17/ 1975 16/ 1974 16/15 1973
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 5,479 5,025 4,923 4,418
50th (median) 12,686 11,800 11,197 10,512
80th percentile upper limit 22,192 20,496 19,453 17,985
95th percentile lower limit 35,382 32,681 31,085 28,509
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 15,884 15,397 16,334 16,118
50th (median) 36,777 36,156 37,151 38,351
80th percentile upper limit 64,334 62,801 64,543 65,615
95th percentile lower limit 102,572 100,136 103,138 104,010
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 6.46 6.50 6.31 6.45
95th/50th 2.79 2.77 2.78 2.71
80th/50th 1.75 1.74 1.74 1.71
80th/20th 4.05 4.08 3.95 4.07
20th/50th 0.43 0.43 0.44 0.42
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 3,278 3,034 2,911 2,568
Second quintile 7,780 7,204 6,973 6,366
Third quintile 12,762 11,787 11,206 10,402
Fourth quintile 18,521 17,117 16,181 14,954
Highest quintile 32,320 29,809 28,259 26,521
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 9,503 9,296 9,658 9,369
Second quintile 22,554 22,073 23,136 23,225
Third quintile 36,997 36,116 37,181 37,950
Fourth quintile 53,692 52,447 53,687 54,557
Highest quintile 93,695 91,336 93,761 96,757
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.2
Second quintile 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.5
Third quintile 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1
Fourth quintile 24.8 24.8 24.7 24.6
Highest quintile 43.3 43.2 43.1 43.6
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.398 0.397 0.395 0.397
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1972 14/ 1971 13/ 1970 1969
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 4,050 3,800 3,687 3,574
50th (median) 9,697 9,028 8,734 8,389
80th percentile upper limit 16,500 15,200 14,661 13,900
95th percentile lower limit 26,560 24,138 23,178 21,800
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 15,707 15,182 15,373 15,620
50th (median) 37,609 36,070 36,416 36,665
80th percentile upper limit 63,993 60,729 61,129 60,751
95th percentile lower limit 103,010 96,440 96,640 95,278
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 6.56 6.35 6.29 6.10
95th/50th 2.74 2.67 2.65 2.60
80th/50th 1.70 1.68 1.68 1.66
80th/20th 4.07 4.00 3.98 3.89
20th/50th 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.43
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 2,316 2,126 2,029 1,957
Second quintile 5,898 5,529 5,395 5,216
Third quintile 9,625 8,965 8,688 8,335
Fourth quintile 13,817 12,745 12,247 11,674
Highest quintile 24,806 22,583 21,684 20,520
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 8,982 8,494 8,460 8,553
Second quintile 22,875 22,090 22,494 22,797
Third quintile 37,329 35,818 36,225 36,429
Fourth quintile 53,588 50,921 51,064 51,022
Highest quintile 96,207 90,227 90,411 89,684
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1
Second quintile 10.5 10.6 10.8 10.9
Third quintile 17.1 17.3 17.4 17.5
Fourth quintile 24.5 24.5 24.5 24.5
Highest quintile 43.9 43.5 43.3 43.0
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.401 0.396 0.394 0.391
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Measures of Income Dispersion 1968 1967 12/
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Household Income at
Selected Percentiles
In Current Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 3,323 3,000
50th (median) 7,743 7,143
80th percentile upper limit 12,688 11,841
95th percentile lower limit 19,850 19,000
In 2000 Dollars:
20th percentile upper limit 15,178 14,231
50th (median) 35,367 33,885
80th percentile upper limit 57,954 56,171
95th percentile lower limit 90,668 90,132
Household Income Ratios of
Selected Percentiles
95th/20th 5.97 6.33
95th/50th 2.56 2.66
80th/50th 1.64 1.66
80th/20th 3.82 3.95
20th/50th 0.43 0.42
Mean Household Income
of Quintiles
In Current Dollars
Lowest quintile 1,832 1,626
Second quintile 4,842 4,433
Third quintile 7,679 7,078
Fourth quintile 10,713 9,903
Highest quintile 18,762 17,946
In 2000 Dollars:
Lowest quintile 8,368 7,713
Second quintile 22,117 21,029
Third quintile 35,075 33,577
Fourth quintile 48,933 46,978
Highest quintile 85,698 85,132
Shares of Household Income
of Quintiles
Lowest quintile 4.2 4.0
Second quintile 11.1 10.8
Third quintile 17.5 17.3
Fourth quintile 24.4 24.2
Highest quintile 42.8 43.8
Gini coefficient of
income inequality 0.388 0.399
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NOTE: Change in data collection methodology suggests pre-1993
and post-1992 estimates are not strictly comparable.
See separate page for Footnotes
See separate page for Suggested Citations
SOURCE: March Current Population Survey
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Income Surveys Branch
Housing & Household Economic Statistics Division
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20233-8500
(hhes-info@census.gov).