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.

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 Share of Net Worth Held by the Top 0.1% (99.9th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBSTP1300) from Q3 1989 to Q4 2024 about shares, net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

Global Financial Household Net Worth by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Graph and download economic data for Share of Net Worth Held by the Bottom 50% (1st to 50th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBSB50215) from Q3 1989 to Q4 2024 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Households; Net Worth, Transactions (BOGZ1FA192090005A) from 1988 to 2024 about net worth, transactions, Net, households, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Households; Net Worth, Level (BOGZ1FL192090005Q) from Q4 1987 to Q4 2024 about net worth, Net, households, and USA.

Uruguay and Chile were the Latin American countries with the highest wealth per adult. In 2021, an Uruguayan adult had, on average, 57,726 U.S. dollars worth of financial and non-financial assets, whereas Chileans' mean wealth stood at 54,639 dollars per adult. Argentina was the country with the lowest average wealth in the region, at only 10,446 dollars per adult.

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.

The United States was the country in the world with the highest net financial assets per capita as of 2023, with around 260,320 euros. Switzerland, Denmark, and the Singapore followed.

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.

Australia Household: Net Worth data was reported at 16,884.900 AUD bn in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 16,484.000 AUD bn for Jun 2024. Australia Household: Net Worth data is updated quarterly, averaging 5,137.900 AUD bn from Sep 1988 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 145 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16,884.900 AUD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 1,204.100 AUD bn in Sep 1988. Australia Household: Net Worth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.AB045: SNA08: SESCA08: Balance Sheet: Households.

Korea Median: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Financial Assets data was reported at 49,950,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 47,640,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Median: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 45,095,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49,950,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 30,280,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Median: HPL: 3 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 Korea – Table KR.H083: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Net Worth Quintiles.

In 2023, there were nearly 22 million people with a net worth of over one million U.S. dollars in the United States, which put the country on the top of the ranking. China was ranked second in that year, with more than six million individuals with wealth exceeding one million U.S. dollars. The United Kingdom followed in third with around three million millionaires.

This table contains 58320 series, with data for years 1999 - 2016 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (20 items: Canada; Atlantic; Newfoundland and Labrador; Prince Edward Island; ...); Assets and debts (27 items: Total assets; Private pension assets; Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs), Locked-in Retirement Accounts (LIRAs) and other; Employer-sponsored Registered Pension Plans (EPPs); ...); Net worth quintiles (6 items: Total, all net worth quintiles; Lowest net worth quintile; Second net worth quintile; Middle net worth quintile; ...); Statistics (6 items: Total values; Percentage of total assets or total debts; Number holding asset or debt; Percentage holding asset or debt; ...); Confidence intervals (3 items: Estimate; Lower bound of a 95% confidence interval; Upper bound of a 95% confidence interval).

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).

China Household Financial Asset and Liability: Net Asset data was reported at 54,466.400 RMB bn in 2013. This records an increase from the previous number of 49,571.400 RMB bn for 2012. China Household Financial Asset and Liability: Net Asset data is updated yearly, averaging 30,655.150 RMB bn from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2013, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 54,466.400 RMB bn in 2013 and a record low of 15,093.800 RMB bn in 2004. China Household Financial Asset and Liability: Net Asset data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The People's Bank of China. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AD: Household Financial Asset and Liability.

Graph and download economic data for Net Worth Held by the 90th to 99th Wealth Percentiles (WFRBLN09053) 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: 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.