Wage Payments into Accounts Statistics in United States (2026)

In 2021, 51.3% of adults in the United States received wage payments into an account, according to World Bank Global Findex data. Up from 48.3% in 2017 to 51.3% in 2021 (+3.1 percentage points). United States ranks #2 of 2 economies in North America on this measure, and #22 of 140 globally.

Key Statistics

Latest value (2021): 51.3% (2021); Wage Payments into Accounts in the United States as of 2021, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
Change since 2017: +3.1 pp (2021); Up from 48.3% in 2017 to 51.3% in 2021 (+3.1 percentage points).
Earliest value in this dataset (2014): 43.3% (2014); Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 43.3% in 2014 to 51.3% in 2021.
Record high (2021): 51.3% (2021); The 2021 value is the highest in the available World Bank Global Findex series for the United States.
Rank in North America: #2 of 2 (2021); The United States ranks 2 of 2 countries in North America with data, based on each country's latest value.
Global rank: #22 of 140 (2021); The United States ranks 22 of 140 countries with data globally.
North America average: 53.4% (2021); The United States (51.3%) is below the average of 53.4% across the 2 countries in North America with data.
Among women (2021): 50.1% (2021); Value for women in the United States, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
Among men (2021): 52.6% (2021); Value for men in the United States, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
Gender gap (women minus men): −2.5 pp (2021); In 2021, the figure was 50.1% for women and 52.6% for men — 2.5 percentage points lower among women.
Internet use in the United States (2024): 94.7% (2024); 94.7% of the population in the United States used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
Population (2024): 340.1 million (2024); The United States had a population of 340.1 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.

Trend, 2014–2021

Wage Payments into Accounts in United States by year (% of adults (age 15+))
Year	% of adults (age 15+)	Change
2021	51.3%	+3.1 pp
2017	48.3%	+5.0 pp
2014	43.3%	—

Fig. 1 — Wage Payments into Accounts in United States, 2014–2021

Frequently asked questions

What share of adults in the United States received wage payments into an account?

51.3% of adults in the United States received wage payments into an account in 2021, according to World Bank Global Findex data.

How does the United States compare with other countries in North America?

The United States ranks 2 of 2 countries in North America with data, with 51.3% versus a regional average of 53.4% (latest values per country).

Where does the United States rank globally on wage payments into accounts?

The United States ranks 22 of 140 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank Global Findex value for each country.

Is there a gender gap in wage payments into accounts in the United States?

Yes — in 2021 the figure was 50.1% for women and 52.6% for men, a gap of 2.5 percentage points in favor of men.

How recent is the wage payments into accounts data for the United States?

The most recent observation is from 2021. World Bank Global Findex data is reported with a lag, so 2021 is the latest available year for the United States.

Source & methodology

Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator fin32.acc, retrieved 2026-06-10.

Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.

Last updated 2026-06-10.