Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, has stated in its Global Wealth
Report 2019 that the number of rich Chinese has surpassed the count of wealthy
Americans for the first time as both countries keep churning out millionaires.
The Swiss bank’s annual wealth survey released on Monday,
October 21st found 100 million Chinese ranked in the global top 10% as of the
middle of this year versus 99 million in the United States.
“Despite the trade tension between the United States and
China over the past 12 months, both countries have fared strongly in wealth
creation, contributing $3.8 trillion and $1.9 trillion respectively,” said
Nannette Hechler-Fayd’herbe, global head of economics and research at Credit
Suisse CSGN.S.
The ranks of the world’s millionaires have risen by 1.1
million to an estimated 46.8 million, collectively owning $158.3 trillion in net
assets, 44% of the global total, the study found. The United States added more than half of
this number –675,000 new millionaires – to its sizeable stock.
A decline in average wealth in Australia largely due to
exchange rates resulted in 124,000 fewer millionaires there, while Britain lost
27,000 and Turkey 24,000. The report estimates that 55,920 adults are worth at
least $100 million and 4,830 have net assets above $500 million. It forecast global wealth which increased
2.6% over the past year would rise by 27% over the next five years to $459
trillion by 2024. The number of millionaires would also grow over this period
to almost 63 million.
The share of the world’s bottom 90% accounts for 18% of
global wealth, compared to 11% in the 2000. “While it is too early to say
wealth inequality is now in a downward phase, the prevailing evidence suggests
that 2016 may have been the peak for the near future,” it said.
