In 2023, roughly 1.49 billion adults worldwide had a net worth of less than 10,000 U.S. dollars. By comparison, 58 million adults had a net worth of more than one million U.S. dollars in the same year. Wealth distribution The distribution of wealth is an indicator of economic inequality. The United Nations says that wealth includes the sum of natural, human, and physical assets. Wealth is not synonymous with income, however, because having a large income can be depleted if one has significant expenses. In 2023, nearly 1,700 billionaires had a total wealth between one to two billion U.S. dollars. Wealth worldwide China had the highest number of billionaires in 2023, with the United States following behind. That same year, New York had the most billionaires worldwide.

In 2023, Switzerland led the ranking of countries with the highest average wealth per adult, with approximately ******* U.S. dollars per person. Luxembourg was ranked second with an average wealth of around ******* U.S. dollars per adult, followed by Hong Kong SAR. However, the figures do not show the actual distribution of wealth. The Gini index shows wealth disparities in countries worldwide. Does wealth guarantee a longer life? As the old adage goes, “money can’t buy you happiness”, yet wealth and income are continuously correlated to the quality of life of individuals in different countries around the world. While greater levels of wealth may not guarantee a higher quality of life, it certainly increases an individual’s chances of having a longer one. Although they do not show the whole picture, life expectancy at birth is higher in the wealthier world regions. Does money bring happiness? A number of the world’s happiest nations also feature in the list of those countries for which average income was highest. Finland, however, which was the happiest country worldwide in 2022, is missing from the list of the top twenty countries with the highest wealth per adult. As such, the explanation for this may be the fact that the larger proportion of the population has access to a high income relative to global levels. Measures of quality of life Criticism of the use of income or wealth as a proxy for quality of life led to the creation of the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Although income is included within the index, it also has other factors taken into account, such as health and education. As such, the countries with the highest human development index can be correlated to those with the highest income levels. That said, none of the above measures seek to assess the physical and mental environmental impact of a high quality of life sourced through high incomes. The happy planet index demonstrates that the inclusion of experienced well-being and ecological footprint in place of income and other proxies for quality of life results in many of the world’s materially poorer nations being included in the happiest.

Graph and download economic data for Net Worth Held by the Top 0.1% (99.9th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBLTP1246) from Q3 1989 to Q4 2024 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

In Europe, the variation in average amounts of financial wealth per adult varied considerably as of 2022, from approximately 449,000 U.S. dollars in Switzerland to roughly 1,200 U.S. dollars in Azerbaijan. In Europe, the overall average financial wealth per adult as of 2022 was 84,308 U.S. dollars. In terms of private wealth, Europe held the second highest value in the world, after North America.

What is financial wealth?

Financial wealth, also known as financial assets or liquid assets can include wealth that an individual has in the forms of cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and bank deposits. In addition to financial wealth, wealth can also be measured in other assets, called non-financial wealth. This includes physical assets, such as real estate, land, vehicles, jewelry, and art, just to name a few.

Where do most wealthy individuals live?

Individuals with a net worth over one million U.S. dollars are called high-net worth individuals (HNWI). The United States was the home country to the highest number of HNWIs in 2021. China followed, although their number of HNWIs did not even reach one third of the number in the United States. In Europe, Switzerland is the country with the highest average financial wealth per adult, but with its small population size, the number of HNWIs does not come near the numbers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy – the European countries with the highest number of HNWIs. Considering Switzerland’s small population size, however, it is the country in the world with the highest proportion of millionaires.

In 2022, Australia had the highest median wealth worldwide of the countries included, reaching nearly 270,000 U.S. dollars. Belgium and Hong Kong followed behind.

Graph and download economic data for Net Worth Held by the Bottom 50% (1st to 50th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBLB50107) from Q3 1989 to Q4 2024 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Net Worth Held by the Top 1% (99th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBST01134) from Q3 1989 to Q4 2024 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data was reported at 570.416 EUR bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 555.510 EUR bn for Sep 2024. Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data is updated quarterly, averaging 315.419 EUR bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 100 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 570.416 EUR bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 144.493 EUR bn in Jun 2000. Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.

The highest median wealth worldwide was found in North America in 2022, reaching a median level of nearly ******* U.S. dollars. Notably, the median wealth in China grew from *** dollars in 2000 to over ****** dollars in 2022, underlining the country's remarkable economic growth over the past decades.

Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Net Worth data was reported at 217,690.000 KRW th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 198,530.000 KRW th for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Net Worth data is updated yearly, averaging 181,560.000 KRW th from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 217,690.000 KRW th in 2017 and a record low of 157,160.000 KRW th in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Net Worth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H078: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Age Groups of Households Head (10Age).

Looking at the average billionaire's wealth worldwide by asset allocation, a clear majority of the wealth among male billionaires was made up of public holdings. Banking and financing is the industry to which the highest share of male billionaires devote most of their time.

World GDP per capita for 2023 was $13,138, a 3.21% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>World GDP per capita for 2022 was <strong>$12,730</strong>, a <strong>2.97% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>World GDP per capita for 2021 was <strong>$12,362</strong>, a <strong>12.99% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>World GDP per capita for 2020 was <strong>$10,942</strong>, a <strong>3.67% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>GDP per capita is gross domestic product divided by midyear population. GDP is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Average: AH: 2 Net Worth Quintile: Other Than Non-Financial Assets data was reported at 8,050,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,430,000.000 KRW for 2016. Average: AH: 2 Net Worth Quintile: Other Than Non-Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 6,825,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,050,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 3,920,000.000 KRW in 2010. Average: AH: 2 Net Worth Quintile: Other Than Non-Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H083: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Net Worth Quintiles.

Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Non-Financial Assets data was reported at 169,680,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 160,950,000.000 KRW for 2016. Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Non-Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 132,445,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 169,680,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 99,990,000.000 KRW in 2010. Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Non-Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H083: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Net Worth Quintiles.

Household Financial Net Wealth data was reported at 406.864 EUR bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 392.231 EUR bn for Sep 2024. Household Financial Net Wealth data is updated quarterly, averaging 126.409 EUR bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 100 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 406.864 EUR bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 69.686 EUR bn in Mar 2009. Household Financial Net Wealth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.

Data and insights on Wealth Distribution in India - share of wealth, average wealth, HNIs, wealth inequality GINI, and comparison with global peers.

The per capita financial net worth of households in Switzerland grew overall since 2000, reaching a value of more than 232,000 U.S. dollars in 2023. Switzerland is also the country with the highest gross financial assets per capita in the world.

Korea Average: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Total Assets data was reported at 267,870,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 251,410,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Average: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Total Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 215,410,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 267,870,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 163,310,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Average: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Total Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H083: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Net Worth Quintiles.

The massive wealth inequality in the world is underpinned by this chart: While just above one percent of the world's population had fortunes of more than one million U.S. dollars in 2022, more than half of the global population had a total wealth of less than 10,000 U.S. dollars.

Household Financial Net Wealth: Revaluations data was reported at 9.411 EUR bn in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.822 EUR bn for Sep 2024. Household Financial Net Wealth: Revaluations data is updated quarterly, averaging 2.513 EUR bn from Jun 2000 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 99 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.129 EUR bn in Mar 2019 and a record low of -43.906 EUR bn in Mar 2013. Household Financial Net Wealth: Revaluations data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.