Editor's Note: This article was updated May 24, 2023, with Gallup's latest data pertaining to Americans' stock ownership.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup finds 61% of Americans reporting that they own stock, based on its April Economy and Personal Finance survey. This is up from the 56% measured in 2021 and 55% measured in 2020, and is the highest it has been since 2008.
Stock ownership averaged 62% between 2001 and 2008 -- but it fell after the 2007-2009 recession and remained at a reduced level until this year.
Gallup's measure of consumer stock ownership is based on a question asking respondents about any individual stocks they may own, as well as stocks included in a mutual fund or retirement savings account, like a 401(k) or IRA.
Stock ownership is strongly correlated with household income, formal education, age, marital status and race.
In 2023, the percentages owning stock range from highs of 84% of adults in households earning $100,000 or more and about eight in 10 college graduates and postgraduates to a low of 29% of those in households earning less than $40,000.
Read Gallup’s latest article on stock ownership:
U.S. Stock Ownership Highest Since 2008
Learn more about the decline in U.S. stock ownership after the Great Recession:
U.S. Stock Ownership Down Among All but Older, Higher-Income
Read Gallup's latest release on Americans' views of the best type of investment:
Real Estate's Lead as Best Investment Shrinks; Gold Rises
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