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 709,600 U.S. dollars per person. Luxembourg was ranked second with an average wealth of around 607,500 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 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 more 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 in the list of 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 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.

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.

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.

Korea Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Total Assets data was reported at 240,260,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 228,480,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Total Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 196,965,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 240,260,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 146,590,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 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 South Korea – Table KR.H083: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Net Worth Quintiles.

The highest median wealth worldwide was found in North America in 2022, reaching a median level of nearly 110,000 U.S. dollars. Notably, the median wealth in China grew from 3.2 dollars in 2000 to over 30,000 dollars in 2022, underlining the country's remarkable economic growth over the past decades.

Korea Median: AH: 1 Net Worth Quintile: Net Worth data was reported at 10,700,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,400,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Median: AH: 1 Net Worth Quintile: Net Worth data is updated yearly, averaging 9,810,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,700,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 6,430,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Median: AH: 1 Net Worth Quintile: Net Worth 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.

Korea Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Other Than Non-Financial Assets data was reported at 14,180,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 13,210,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Other Than Non-Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 12,010,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14,180,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 6,390,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 3 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.

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

Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data was reported at 556.415 EUR bn in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 532.650 EUR bn for Jun 2024. Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data is updated quarterly, averaging 317.807 EUR bn from Mar 2002 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 91 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 556.415 EUR bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 167.745 EUR bn in Sep 2002. 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.

Korea Average: AH: 1 Net Worth Quintile: Financial Assets data was reported at 17,830,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 17,620,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 1 Net Worth Quintile: Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 16,120,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17,830,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 11,440,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 1 Net Worth Quintile: Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H083: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Net Worth Quintiles.

Germany DE: Households: Net Worth data was reported at 14,653,575.000 EUR mn in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 13,870,811.000 EUR mn for 2019. Germany DE: Households: Net Worth data is updated yearly, averaging 9,854,020.000 EUR mn from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2020, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14,653,575.000 EUR mn in 2020 and a record low of 7,669,107.000 EUR mn in 2005. Germany DE: Households: Net Worth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.IMF.FSI: 2006 Methodology: Sectoral Financial Statement: Balance Sheet: Annual.

Korea Average: AH: 2 Net Worth Quintile: Non-Financial Assets data was reported at 74,910,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 63,680,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 2 Net Worth Quintile: Non-Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 54,260,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 74,910,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 35,250,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 2 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.

Korea Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Secured Loan data was reported at 37,910,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 36,530,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Secured Loan data is updated yearly, averaging 28,270,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37,910,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 18,060,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Secured Loan 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.

This statistic shows the mean net worth of billionaires worldwide, by gender and source of wealth in 2014. In 2014, the net worth of female billionaires who had inherited their wealth was 3.5 billion U.S. dollars.