A recent analysis published by Wealth-X found that the global ultra-high-net-worth population (individuals with a net worth of $30 million or more) climbed 0.8% to 265,490 in 2018. As in previous years, the United States boasted the highest UHNWI population of any country by far last year – 81,340. China came a very distant second on the list with 24,965 ultra-wealthy individuals while Japan was third with 17,855. When it comes to super-rich individuals as a share of the population in different countries, however, the picture looks radically different.
Wealth-X found that Hong Kong boasts an exceptionally high billionaire density thanks to its status as a global financial centre, its proximity and trading links with China, as well as its close ties with the U.S. and Europe. In 2018, Hong Kong had 1,364 ultra-wealthy individuals for every million of its adults. Switzerland had the second highest UNHWI density in Wealth-X’s report with 848 per million inhabitants while Luxembourg came third overall with 699.
The top-five was rounded off by Singapore (530) and Ireland (421). Despite being the dominant nation for the super-rich and accounting for 31% of the global ultra-wealthy population, the U.S. had 306 UNHWIs per million of its inhabitants last year. That placed it 10th in the density league, behind Denmark and Canada who had 324 and 334 per million people respectively.
*Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)
