The Middle class describes people who are not aristocrats/upper class nor working class or underclass but have a fair standard of living. Depending on class model used, the middle class may make up anywhere from 45% to 49% of households in the United States. They generally make up the largest group or the majority of the population in developed countries. In developing countries, the middle class, generally makes up a much smaller percentage of the population. There is a lower middle class and an upper middle class. In Marxism, middle class is the class below the upper class, who is the ruling class. The word bourgeoisie may also be used as a synonym of middle class.