Facts about the Average American

From Cheryl Russell, editorial director, New Strategist Publications

There is no single source of information on the average American. To know him (or her), you have to follow the demographics. To that end, here is a sampling of just a few of the characteristics of the average American (adult) or household.

1. The average American makes $735/week.
Current Population Survey

2. The average American has $34 in his/her wallet.
Survey of Consumer Payment Choice

3. The average American spends $69 a day.
Gallup

4. The average American has a job (58%).
Bureau of Labor Statistics

5. The average American thinks hard work is the way to get ahead (70%).
General Social Survey

6. The average American thinks the government's number-one priority should be to help keep and create jobs in America (51%).
Economic Mobility Project

7. The average American has employer-provided health insurance (56%).
Current Population Survey

8. The average American household spends $3,126 a year out-of-pocket on health care.
Consumer Expenditure Survey

9. The average American has a landline telephone (70%).
National Health Interview Survey

10. The average American has a cell phone (87%), but does not own a smart phone (only 35% own one).
National Health Interview Survey, Pew Research Center

11. The average American says the economy/jobs will be the top issue in the 2012 election (60%).
Kaiser Polls

12. The average American has less than $100,000 in savings (54%).
AARP

13. The average American does not directly own any stock. (Only 19% of households own stock directly.)
Survey of Consumer Finances

14. The average American household is $75,600 in debt (including the mortgage).
Survey of Consumer Finances

15. The average American has been to college (56%), but does not have a college degree.
Current Population Survey

16. The average American owns a desktop (59%) and/or laptop computer (52%).
Pew Internet & American Life Project

17. The average American used the Internet today (59%).
Pew Internet & American Life Project

18. The average American says he/she is in very good or excellent health (56%).
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

19. The average American is overweight (63%).
National Health Interview Survey

20. The average American eats at least two snacks a day (65%).
USDA

21. The average American drinks alcohol regularly (52%).
National Health Interview Survey

22. The average American goes to the doctor at least twice a year (65%).
National Health Interview Survey

23. The average American is taking at least one prescription drug.
Health, United States

24. The average American sometimes or often has trouble sleeping (55%).
General Social Survey

25. The average American is currently married (51%).
Families and Living Arrangements

26. The average American has never divorced (only 21% have ever divorced).
Survey of Income and Program Participation

27. The average American lives in one of the top 50 metropolitan areas (54%).
2010 census

28. The average American is a homeowner (65%).
2010 census

29. The average American lives in an 1,800 square foot house.
American Housing Survey

30. The average American lives in a house built before 1975.
American Housing Survey

31. The average American believes the effects of global warming have already begun or soon will (53%).
Gallup

32. The average American household is air-conditioned (87%).
American Housing Survey

33. The average American watches 2 hours and 49 minutes of television a day.
American Time Use Survey

34. The average American has two or more children (57%).
General Social Survey

35. The average American favors spanking children, if necessary (69%).
General Social Survey

36. The average American was born in-state (52%).
American Community Survey

37. The average American's parents were born in the United States (78%)
General Social Survey

38. The average American's grandparents (all four) were born in the United States (59%).
General Social Survey

39. The average American household owns two vehicles.
Consumer Expenditure Survey

40. The average American household owns at least one pet (62%).
American Pet Products Association

41. The average American pays his/her credit card bill in full each month (54%).
National Bureau of Economic Research

42. The average American household has a net worth of $96,000.
Survey of Consumer Finances

43. The average American believes in God without a doubt (59%).
General Social Survey

44. The average American believes in evolution (56%).
General Social Survey

45. The average American favors the death penalty (68%).
General Social Survey

46. The average American often or always recycles (64%).
General Social Survey

47. The average American wants the government to spend more on education (74%), health care (60%), and the environment (60%).
National Opinion Research Center

48. The average American is worried about being able to maintain his/her standard of living (58%).
Gallup

49. The average American believes the honesty and ethical standards of Congress are low (57%).
Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics

50. The average American does not know which political party controls the House of Representatives (62%).
Pew Research Center

For more about the the average American, see the 10th edition of The American Marketplace: Demographics and Spending Patterns, available in hardcopy or as a PDF download with links to Excel files of each data table.