A new report has revealed a 4.6% increase in global net worth among private individuals, with the Americas—especially the United States—recording an even steeper rise of over 11%. This impressive growth was driven primarily by a stable U.S. dollar and strong performances in financial markets, with the United States emerging as a central figure in global wealth trends.
In fact, in 2024, nearly 40% of the world’s millionaires resided in the United States alone, underscoring the country’s dominant role in high-net-worth individual statistics.
However, the report also provided a historical context: while the U.S. took the lead in 2024, it was Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) that were the main contributors to global wealth recovery in 2023. These regions played a critical role in reversing the financial downturn experienced in 2022.
When focusing on mid-tier wealth—individuals whose net worth ranges from $100,000 to $1 million—Greater China stood out as the global leader, accounting for 28.2% of this wealth category. Western Europe followed closely with 25.4%, while North America made up 20.9%, highlighting a diversified global spread in this income segment.
Despite the increase in global wealth and the growing number of millionaires, the report emphasized a significant disparity in wealth distribution. More than 80% of individuals in the UBS sample had a net worth below $100,000. In contrast, only 1.6% of adults held assets worth $1 million or more, illustrating the wide gap between the wealthy and the majority.
Looking ahead, UBS forecasts continued growth in average wealth per adult over the next five years, with the United States expected to remain the primary driver of this upward trend, followed by Greater China.
