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Interesting factoid on wealth distribution

LAB3

LAB3

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
Here's an interesting look at how wealth is distributed amongst the population of various countries, the US isn't looking all that great. For those not familiar with statistics the word "median" means 50% of the people are above a certain level and 50% are below as opposed to "average" which is what you get when you add everything and divide by the number of people involved. Median is a much better description of how things actually are in the real world.

www.visualcapitalist.com

Ranked: The Richest Countries by Average and Median Wealth

Why does the U.S. rank 2nd by average wealth but just 28th by median wealth? See how the world's richest countries compare in 2026.
www.visualcapitalist.com www.visualcapitalist.com
 
The US claims to have 41% of the world's millionaires, while China with 4 times the population, claims just 10% of the world's millionaires. Based on a quick search, these numbers must include primary residence holdings, as there are reportedly only 8.7 million citiznes in the US with investible assets of 1 million.

A sad statistic, 56% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings and 43% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings.
 
It's honestly amazing how quickly income distribution in the US has changed for the worse. (And much of the rest of the world as well.)

It started long before, but in the end the financial crisis in 2007-2009 functioned as a breathtakingly vast transfer of wealth to a very small number of people. Not your hard-working, well-educated neighbors who are in the "1%"; we're talking about a few hundred people, the 1% of the 1% of the 1%.

This is a good account of that crisis and its origins, but not the aftermath:
www.cfr.org

The U.S. Financial Crisis | Council on Foreign Relations

1992 – 2018 The financial meltdown that started with the bursting of the U.S. housing bubble had worldwide economic repercussions, including recessions, far-reaching regulations, and deep-seated political discontent. Track its buildup and aftermath.
www.cfr.org www.cfr.org

Since then, the wealth and numbers of the billionaires has vastly increased

"The net worth of the world's (3,000) billionaires increased from less than $1 trillion in 2000 to over $16 trillion in 2025."
And since 2025, As of right now in 2026, the net worth of the world's 3,428 billionaires has increased to $20 trillion. Has your wealth increased by 20x since Y2K?

Also note the graph on that page, and the sharp increase in net worth and the increasing pace of growth starting in 2020. There is no bad news the billionaire class cannot find ways to exploit to line their pockets and increase their power at the expense of everyone else.

The lies of "trickle-down" and "blame these people over here and not the ultra-wealthy and people in power" is repeated, and people somehow still believe it.

This is not normal and this is not OK.
 
Thanks for that Lab ..... I found that an interesting and educational read . Educational because I found it useful to do some research on the " social safety nets " in various countries . I had no idea what they may be in countries like Luxembourg or Japan . But they are extensive . I didn't research every country but I did enough to see a pattern . { With one glaring anomaly, Switzerland } ...... And of course the Nordic countries are well known for theirs . But it appears the better the " social safety net " the higher that " mean income " is ......

In my own country Canada, it is mostly a Provincial thing . With Quebec having the best social safety net { $9.30 a day daycare for example "} and PEI { highest welfare rates } leading the country . Whereas Alberta { mini-America } adopting survival of the fittest as a way of life . And the Territories being the country's Commies. Here in my province of B.C. we can go either way . But when we change we change 180 degrees . We're either, puck the environment big business supporting right wingers, or card carrying { rent controlled } Commies ..... { currently we're Commies } ......

How " social safety nets " tie into higher mean incomes I'm not really sure of . Unless that mean income is translated as " disposable income " in which case it does kind of make sense .....
 
bccap said:
Thanks for that Lab ..... I found that an interesting and educational read . Educational because I found it useful to do some research on the " social safety nets " in various countries . I had no idea what they may be in countries like Luxembourg or Japan . But they are extensive . I didn't research every country but I did enough to see a pattern . { With one glaring anomaly, Switzerland } ...... And of course the Nordic countries are well known for theirs . But it appears the better the " social safety net " the higher that " mean income " is ......

In my own country Canada, it is mostly a Provincial thing . With Quebec having the best social safety net { $9.30 a day daycare for example "} and PEI { highest welfare rates } leading the country . Whereas Alberta { mini-America } adopting survival of the fittest as a way of life . And the Territories being the country's Commies. Here in my province of B.C. we can go either way . But when we change we change 180 degrees . We're either, puck the environment big business supporting right wingers, or card carrying { rent controlled } Commies ..... { currently we're Commies } ......

How " social safety nets " tie into higher mean incomes I'm not really sure of . Unless that mean income is translated as " disposable income " in which case it does kind of make sense .....
Click to expand...
It could be you're confusing wealth with income. Wealth means that if you where to sell everything you own and pay off all your debts what is left is what determines your net worth, not your income from work or other sources.
 
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