Asset Building Statistics: Savings, Wealth, Ownership and Debt
Asset building statistics show whether households have accessible savings, own assets, carry debt and accumulate wealth. Each measure answers a separate question. A household may own valuable property and still have little cash available for an unexpected expense.
The figures below mainly cover US adults and households. Each figure includes its measurement period and source. International data appear separately because definitions and survey questions vary between countries.
What do asset building statistics measure?
Asset building statistics measure the resources households own, the debts they owe and the money they can access quickly. Common measures include net worth, financial assets, liquid savings, property, retirement accounts and debt.
The definitions depend on the study:
- Net worth is the value of assets minus debts.
- Financial net worth excluded home equity and vehicle value in a 2010 US asset-poverty study.
- Liquid assets included savings and financial investments that could be converted to cash easily in that study.
- Asset poverty applies a minimum threshold to a selected measure of household resources.
Published asset-poverty rates depend on the definition, threshold, population and year. Current official data report savings, wealth and debt separately, so those figures appear separately on this page. The definitions above come from a 2010 National Center for Children in Poverty study.
How financially resilient are US households?
In 2025, 55% of US adults said they had set aside enough money to cover three months of expenses. Another 30% said they could not cover three months through savings, borrowing, selling assets or other means.
The same Federal Reserve survey found that 70% of adults could pay an expense of at least $500 using current savings. Eighteen percent could cover less than $100, and 12% could cover between $100 and $499.
These figures measure access to money. Total wealth requires separate data. The survey sets no recommended reserve for an individual household.
How is household wealth distributed?
Median US household wealth was $204,900 in 2024. The 10th percentile was zero, which means one in ten households had zero or negative wealth. The 90th percentile was $1.81 million.
The US Census Bureau defines wealth as assets owned minus debts owed. Its measure excludes equity in pension plans and the value of home furnishings. It covers households, while the Federal Reserve savings survey covers individual adults.
The Federal Reserve Distributional Financial Accounts provide quarterly estimates of US household wealth. The data divide wealth by wealth group, income, age, generation, education and race. The Federal Reserve updated the data on 18 June 2026.
Which assets make up household wealth?
Assets at financial institutions were the most widely held asset in the 2024 Census data. They were held by 95.7% of households. Home equity was held by 62.5%, retirement accounts by 60.5%, and stocks or mutual funds by 24.7%.
| Indicator | Latest figure | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Adults with savings for three months of expenses | 55% | 2025, Federal Reserve |
| Median household wealth | $204,900 | 2024, US Census Bureau |
| Households with home equity | 62.5% | 2024, US Census Bureau |
| Households with retirement accounts | 60.5% | 2024, US Census Bureau |
| Households with stocks or mutual funds | 24.7% | 2024, US Census Bureau |
| Total household debt | $18.771 trillion | Q2 2026, New York Fed |
Among households that held each asset, the median value was $10,100 for assets at financial institutions, $220,000 for home equity and $89,150 for retirement accounts. These medians exclude households that did not hold the asset. The Census detailed tables provide the full results.
How much household debt is outstanding?
US household debt stood at $18.771 trillion in the second quarter of 2026. Mortgage debt accounted for $13.117 trillion. Auto debt was $1.713 trillion, student debt was $1.651 trillion and credit-card debt was $1.263 trillion.
The New York Fed figures come from a nationally representative sample drawn from anonymised Equifax credit data. They cover mortgages, student loans, credit cards, auto loans and other debts reported through the credit system.
Census data provide a separate household survey measure. In 2024, 53.5% of households had unsecured debt. The median balance among those households was $10,000. Credit-card and store bills were the most common type, held by 40% of households.
Does high net worth mean financial resilience?
High net worth does not guarantee quick access to money. A household may hold most of its wealth in a home, retirement account or business and have little cash for an urgent expense.
Property can take time and money to sell. Retirement accounts are intended for later life and may restrict access. Business assets can also be difficult to sell quickly.
Accessible savings, debt payments, ownership concentration and access restrictions each affect financial resilience. Net worth alone does not answer these questions.
Where can you find current asset-building data?
Several official sources cover asset-building data. The Federal Reserve household survey covers emergency savings. Census data cover household wealth, asset ownership and unsecured debt. The New York Fed reports credit balances, while the Federal Reserve Distributional Financial Accounts report how wealth is divided among population groups.
Each source uses its own population and method. Figures for adults, households and credit records cannot be combined as though they measured the same group.
The World Bank Global Findex 2025 is useful for international comparisons. It is based on surveys of about 148,000 adults in 141 economies conducted during 2024. It reports access to and use of financial services for saving, borrowing, payments and managing financial risk. Users should check the country coverage and question definitions before comparing results.