Class (social) facts for kids

A social class is a way to group people based on things like their wealth, job, and how much power they have in society. It helps us understand how different groups of people live and interact. The most common groups are the upper class, middle class, and lower class.

What Are Social Classes?

Many people think about social classes in three main groups. These groups are based on how much money people have, what kind of jobs they do, and how much influence they have.

• The upper class includes people who are very rich and powerful. They often own large businesses or have a lot of property.
• The middle class includes people like doctors, teachers, small business owners, and managers. They usually have steady jobs and comfortable lives.
• The lower class includes people who work in jobs that pay less. They might struggle to earn enough money to live comfortably.

The Upper Class

This image shows three groups in old Europe. The third group, who were mostly farmers, are carrying the clergy and the nobles.

The upper class is made up of people who are very rich, powerful, or come from important families. They often have the most say in how things are run in a country.

In some places, just being very wealthy can make you part of the upper class. In other places, you might need to be born into a noble family or marry into one. For example, in the United Kingdom, the royal family and old noble families are seen as the upper class. Wealth is important, but family history matters a lot too.

The upper class is usually a very small part of the population, often just one or two percent. Members of this class are often born into it. They pass down their great wealth and property from one generation to the next.

The Middle Class

The middle class is the largest group in many societies. It includes a wide range of people who are not super rich but are also not struggling with poverty.

This group can be hard to define because it includes so many different jobs and income levels. For example, in the United States, the term "middle class" is used very broadly. It can include people who might be called "working class" in other countries. People in the middle class often work in jobs that require more education, like office jobs. These workers are sometimes called "white-collar workers."

The Lower Class

A street in Camden, New Jersey.

The lower class includes people who work in jobs that pay less and offer little job security. They often have low incomes and may struggle to afford basic needs. Sometimes, this group is also called the "working class."

In the United States, people in the lowest part of the working class sometimes live in city areas where public services are not very good. Their income is often not enough to support themselves or their families easily.

A person's social class can affect many parts of their life. It can influence the schools they go to, their health, the types of jobs they can get, and even how they are treated by police or in court.

Health and Well-being

A person's social class can greatly affect their health. It also impacts their ability to get good medical care and healthy food. It can even influence how long they live.

People in the lower class often face more health problems. This is partly because of their economic situation. They might not be able to see a doctor as often. When they do get medical care, it might not be the best quality. Also, people with lower incomes often work in jobs that are more dangerous. They usually have less health insurance, or none at all, compared to middle- and upper-class workers.

Images for kids

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  Slave beating in ancient Egypt

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  Burmese nobles and servants

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  Nigerian warriors armed with spears in the retinue of a mounted war chief. The Earth and Its Inhabitants, 1892

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  Equestrian portrait of Empress Elizabeth of Russia with a Moor servant