How have the structural changes that have occurred since the 19th century affected the individual wealth of the French? The use of an historical source to monitor these changes in wealth shows that, in France, wealth inequalities stem from changes in the internal distribution of the rural world, even though the urbanization which took place at that time has visible effects. In rural areas, and on average in France, the reduction in the proportion of the population having assets mainly affects small owners, thus increasing the gaps in wealth.