The distribution of global wealth according to Credit Suisse

30.11.2016

The distribution of global wealth has stayed just as skewed as last year, according to a huge study by Credit Suisse.

The bank compiled data showing that just 0.7% of the world's adult population owns almost half of the world's wealth, while the bottom 73% have less than $10,000 each.

Here is Credit Suisse:

"The 3.5 billion adults with wealth below $10,000 account for 2.4% of global wealth. In contrast, the 33 million millionaires comprise less than 1% of the adult population, but own 46% of household wealth.

"The past year saw a slight increase in the number of US dollar millionaires and high net worth individuals, with Japan the main beneficiary due to appreciation of the yen."

 161124- global credit pyramid 2016 source credit suisse global wealth databook

Those at the top of the pyramid, which starts at the $1 million mark, have the same size share of global wealth as last year.

Here is Credit Suisse again:

"The top tiers of the wealth pyramid – covering individuals with net worth above $100,000 – comprised 5% of all adults at the turn of the century. The proportion rose rapidly until the financial crisis, but has remained quite stable since that time. It currently comprises 8.2% of the global total, exactly the same as in mid-2015."

The US, home to 41% of the world's millionaires, dominates the wealth league tables, while the UK had a terrible year in dollar terms.

Britain lost by far the greatest number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals – those with more than $50 million – down 700 to 4,700. The UK also lost the most amount of millionaires, down by 422,000 to 2,225,000 people.

Because the data is denominated in dollars, the pound's 18% collapse after the vote to leave the European Union will have driven a lot of the change.

Credit Suisse split out the wealth distribution at the very top of the pyramid. This is what it looks like:

 The top of the pyramid

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