The world's ultra-wealthy population reached a record level in 2025, extending a run of double-digit growth and accumulating a collective net worth that dwarfs the annual output of the US economy.
Data intelligence firm Altrata's World Ultra Wealth Report 2026 found that the global ultra-high-net-worth population, defined as individuals with a net worth of $30m or more, expanded by 14.4% to 556,850 people.
That marked the strongest annual rate of increase since 2017 and the second consecutive year of growth exceeding 10%. The group's combined net worth climbed 14.3% to $63.8tn.
The gains were driven by a broadly favorable environment for asset markets.
For the first time since the pandemic, all major asset classes delivered positive returns, with global equities generating double-digit gains for a third straight year. Lower inflation, steady fiscal and monetary support, resilient corporate earnings and sustained enthusiasm for AI investment all bolstered wealthy portfolios, even as geopolitical tensions and shifting US trade policy created periodic turbulence.
North America remained the dominant ultra-wealth region, with its UHNW population rising 15% to 224,470 individuals, as both the US and Canada posted double-digit growth.
The US alone accounted for 206,880 ultra-wealthy individuals, representing 37% of the global total, a share larger than the combined portion held by all other countries in the top 10. Their cumulative net worth stood at $23.8tn, nearly four times that of second-ranked China.
Canada is listed among the top 10 UHNW countries globally, with 17,590 ultra-wealthy individuals in 2025 and a cumulative net worth of $2.0tn, representing year-on-year population growth of 13.2%.
Asia consolidated its position as the world's second-largest ultra-wealth region, with its UHNW population growing 15.8% to 141,890 individuals, lifting its global share above 25%.
South Korea's tech-heavy equity markets were among the top performers globally, fueled by soaring demand for semiconductor memory chips. Seoul recorded the standout city-level gain, with its UHNW count rising by more than a third to 6,220 individuals, pushing it into the top 12 cities worldwide for the first time.
Europe's ultra-wealthy class expanded at a similar pace to North America, with the UHNW population reaching 140,140 people despite sluggish economic conditions in Germany, the UK and France. Investor diversification away from US assets, strong currency appreciation against the dollar, and central bank easing all supported portfolio values. The region's cumulative UHNW net worth rose 15.2% to $16.3tn.
By contrast, the Middle East lagged significantly. Ultra-wealthy numbers in the region grew just 4.4% to 22,880 individuals, weighed down by a near-20% annual decline in oil prices, the steepest fall since 2020, and equity market underperformance. Cumulative UHNW net worth in the region edged up just 1.9% to $3tn.
New York retained its status as the world's premier ultra-wealthy city, home to nearly 24,000 UHNW individuals.
Hong Kong's UHNW population surged 26% to 18,290 people, reflecting renewed capital inflows, equity market gains tied to deeper integration with mainland Chinese markets, and growing demand for private banking and family office services.
The report also highlighted longer-term structural trends within the UHNW class. Since 2004, the ultra-wealthy population has grown by a cumulative 255%, expanding seven times faster than the global adult population.
The number of so-called centi-millionaires, those with net worth above $100m, reached more than 117,000 in 2025, nearly double the 60,000 recorded in 2015, driven largely by the technology boom.
Looking ahead, Altrata projects the global UHNW population will reach 746,570 individuals by 2030, an increase of roughly 190,000 from the 2025 level, representing average annual growth of 6%.
Their combined net worth is expected to rise by a third to $85tn. Asia is forecast to register the fastest regional growth rate among the three major wealth centers, though North America will retain its position at the top of the global rankings.
Among cities, Delhi is projected to be the fastest-growing UHNW market to 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 11.3%, followed by Stockholm at 10.8% and Wuhan, China, at 10.3%. Melbourne and Guangzhou round out the top five.
The report notes that the first half of 2026 has brought renewed market volatility, with geopolitical tensions, including the US-Israel conflict with Iran, rattling global equity markets and reinforcing UHNW demand for portfolio diversification, private capital, and sophisticated family office structures.
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