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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Minimum Wealth Cutoff for the Top 0.1% (99.9th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBLTP1311) from Q3 1989 to Q3 2022 about wealth, percentile, 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.

Between December 2019 and 2021, the top one percent of earners accumulated 63 percent of all new wealth worldwide. This is more than six times more wealth than accumulated by the bottom 90 percent over the same time period.

Global wealth distribution Newly generated wealth landing in the hands of the few is not a new story and has been the focus of international development policy for many years. Looking at a regional level, Latin America was the region with the starkest distribution of wealth. In this region, 77 percent of the wealth was held by the richest 10 percent in 2021, and only 0.5 percent held by the poorest 50 percent. At an individual level, around 2.82 billion adults worldwide had a net worth of less than 10,000 U.S. dollars in 2021.

Billionaires In 2021, the highest concentration of billionaires could be found in North America. However, China had the largest number of billionaires in its population in 2022, with most living in Beijing. Looking at wealth distribution amongst billionaires themselves, 20 people had fortunes of 50 billion U.S. dollars or more, but the majority of billionaires had a personal fortune between two and five billion U.S. dollars.

In December 2022, Elon Musk slipped from the top spot of richest people on Earth. The number one spot was taken by French magnate, Bernard Arnault of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

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 2022, the average net personal wealth among the most affluent one percent of Spanish population was 3.15 million euros. On the other side, the wealth of bottom 50 percent of the wealth holders in the country was estimated at 17,300 euros. When looking at the evolution of wealth distribution in Spain during the last decades, it can be observed, that the share of wealth held by the least affluent half of the population is now lower than it was at the beginning of the 21th century.

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.

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: AH: 2 Net Worth Quintile: Financial Assets data was reported at 40,250,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 40,000,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Median: AH: 2 Net Worth Quintile: Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 38,930,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40,900,000.000 KRW in 2015 and a record low of 29,620,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Median: AH: 2 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.

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

South Korea Median: HPL: 5th NWQ: Net Worth data was reported at 795,800,000.000 KRW in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 725,420,000.000 KRW for 2017. South Korea Median: HPL: 5th NWQ: Net Worth data is updated yearly, averaging 760,610,000.000 KRW from Mar 2017 (Median) to 2018, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 795,800,000.000 KRW in 2018 and a record low of 725,420,000.000 KRW in 2017. South Korea Median: HPL: 5th NWQ: 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.H083: 2017 SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income: By Net Worth Quintiles.

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 Median: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Non-Financial Assets data was reported at 195,000,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 180,000,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Median: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Non-Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 147,785,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 195,000,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 113,000,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Median: HPL: 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.

Korea Median: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Installment Balance data was reported at 1,000,000.000 KRW in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1,000,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Median: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Installment Balance data is updated yearly, averaging 900,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,000,000.000 KRW in 2017 and a record low of 700,000.000 KRW in 2012. Korea Median: HPL: 3 Net Worth Quintile: Installment Balance 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 Median: HPL: 5 Net Worth Quintile: Repay Of Principal & Interest data was reported at 11,800,000.000 KRW in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12,390,000.000 KRW for 2016. Korea Median: HPL: 5 Net Worth Quintile: Repay Of Principal & Interest data is updated yearly, averaging 9,300,000.000 KRW from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,390,000.000 KRW in 2016 and a record low of 6,840,000.000 KRW in 2010. Korea Median: HPL: 5 Net Worth Quintile: Repay Of Principal & Interest 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 the first quarter of 2024, almost two-thirds percent of the total wealth in the United States was owned by the top 10 percent of earners. In comparison, the lowest 50 percent of earners only owned 2.5 percent of the total wealth. Income inequality in the U.S. Despite the idea that the United States is a country where hard work and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps will inevitably lead to success, this is often not the case. In 2023, 7.4 percent of U.S. households had an annual income under 15,000 U.S. dollars. With such a small percentage of people in the United States owning such a vast majority of the country’s wealth, the gap between the rich and poor in America remains stark. The top one percent The United States follows closely behind China as the country with the most billionaires in the world. Elon Musk alone held around 219 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Over the past 50 years, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio has exploded, causing the gap between rich and poor to grow, with some economists theorizing that this gap is the largest it has been since right before the Great Depression.

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.

Canada CA: Households: Net Worth data was reported at 13,609,027.000 CAD mn in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 12,282,617.000 CAD mn for 2019. Canada CA: Households: Net Worth data is updated yearly, averaging 8,238,787.500 CAD mn from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2020, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13,609,027.000 CAD mn in 2020 and a record low of 5,168,570.000 CAD mn in 2005. Canada CA: Households: Net Worth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.IMF.FSI: 2006 Methodology: Sectoral Financial Statement: Balance Sheet: Annual.

Household Financial Net Wealth data was reported at 393.136 EUR bn in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 369.771 EUR bn for Jun 2024. Household Financial Net Wealth data is updated quarterly, averaging 339.199 EUR bn from Sep 2020 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 393.136 EUR bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 304.112 EUR bn in Sep 2020. 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.