World distribution of wealth is the
distribution of how
wealth is distributed around the world. The guideline for categorizing the data is to organize it based on the continent on which the people with wealth reside.
Data organization
Sometimes the data is organized by household wealth. It is useful to do it this way because sometimes the holders of wealth take care of other people who have no wealth, such as children or other family members.
World distribution of wealth (2016)
Data for the following tables is obtained from The UN-WIDER World Distribution of Household Wealth Report.[1]
Northern America
nation
percent of world population
share of adult population
Net worth per capita (PPP)
Net worth per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world net worth (PPP)
Percent of world net worth (exchange rates)
Real GDP per capita (PPP)
Real GDP per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world GDP (PPP)
Percent of world GDP (exchange rates)
USA
4.67
71.39
143,727
143,727
25.4
32.65
35,619
35,619
21.97
31.49
Canada
0.5
74.18
89,252
70,916
1.7
1.74
28,731
22,828
1.91
2.18
total
5.17
27.1
34.39
23.88
33.67
Central and South America
nation
percent of world population
share of adult population
Net worth per capita (PPP)
Net worth per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world net worth (PPP)
Percent of world net worth (exchange rates)
Real GDP per capita (PPP)
Real GDP per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world GDP (PPP)
Percent of world GDP (exchange rates)
Argentina
0.61
63.17
38,481
25,410
0.88
0.75
11,729
7,745
0.94
0.89
Bahamas
0.00
60.87
76,364
53,813
0.01
0.01
16,793
14,217
0.01
0.01
Barbados
0.00
71.27
103,787
58,121
0.02
0.01
17,526
9,815
0.01
0.01
Belize
0.00
49.27
12,318
5,851
0.00
0.00
7,170
3,406
0.00
0.00
Bermuda
0.00
71.66
138,417
136,630
0.01
0.01
na
42,533
na
0.01
Bolivia
0.14
50.15
7,215
2,450
0.04
0.02
2,934
996
0.05
0.03
Brazil
2.86
59.94
21,092
9,566
2.28
1.33
7,745
3,512
2.92
1.9
Chile
0.25
63.65
30,760
13,722
0.29
0.17
10,389
4,635
0.35
0.22
Colombia
0.69
57.45
14,291
4,730
0.37
0.16
5,796
1,918
0.53
0.25
Costa Rica
0.06
58.13
14,973
10,615
0.04
0.03
5,873
4,164
0.05
0.05
Cuba
0.18
72.09
12,086
4,587
0.08
0.04
na
2,467
na
0.09
Dominican Republic
0.14
53.99
13,729
5,713
0.07
0.04
5,654
2,352
0.1
0.06
Ecuador
0.2
55.01
6,911
1,996
0.05
0.02
3,720
1,074
0.1
0.04
El Salvador
0.1
53.95
18,893
8,632
0.07
0.04
4,622
2,112
0.06
0.04
Guadeloupe
0.01
67.1
76,364
53,813
0.02
0.02
na
10,030
na
0.01
Guatemala
0.18
44.65
12,769
4,934
0.09
0.04
4,335
1,675
0.11
0.06
Haiti
0.13
47.17
6,221
1,611
0.03
0.01
1,798
466
0.03
0.01
Honduras
0.11
47.09
5,523
2,356
0.02
0.01
2,164
923
0.03
0.02
Jamaica
0.04
57.2
10,416
8,562
0.02
0.02
3,464
2,848
0.02
0.02
Mexico
1.64
56.08
21,493
13,070
1.34
1.05
9,711
5,905
2.11
1.84
Nicaragua
0.08
45.96
5,138
1,248
0.02
0.00
1,947
473
0.02
0.01
Panama
0.05
58.67
15,677
8,152
0.03
0.02
6,650
3,458
0.04
0.03
Paraguay
0.09
49.41
11,101
3,163
0.04
0.01
4,801
1,368
0.06
0.02
Peru
0.43
55.29
12,234
5,328
0.2
0.11
4,799
2,090
0.27
0.17
Puerto Rico
0.06
68.03
75,582
54,362
0.18
0.17
22,242
15,998
0.19
0.19
Trinidad and Tobago
0.02
63.6
53,429
23,408
0.04
0.02
13,721
6,011
0.04
0.02
Uruguay
0.05
67.6
20,207
11,807
0.04
0.03
10,285
6,009
0.07
0.06
US Virgin Islands
0.00
65.59
76,364
53,813
0.01
0.00
na
na
na
na
Venezuela
0.4
56.14
14,629
10,101
0.22
0.2
7,232
4,994
0.38
0.38
totals:
8.52
6.51
4.34
8.49
6.44
Europe
nation
percent of world population
share of adult population
Net worth per capita (PPP)
Net worth per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world net worth (PPP)
Percent of world net worth (exchange rates)
Real GDP per capita (PPP)
Real GDP per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world GDP (PPP)
Percent of world GDP (exchange rates)
Albania
0.05
60.44
10,504
3,155
0.02
0.01
3,658
1,099
0.02
0.01
Austria
0.13
77.46
66,639
62,420
0.34
0.40
24,836
23,264
0.44
0.59
Belarus
0.16
73.14
14,591
1,698
0.09
0.01
8,738
1,017
0.19
0.03
Belgium
0.17
76.63
85,818
76,577
0.55
0.63
25,008
22,315
0.56
0.72
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.06
73.92
12,131
2,457
0.03
0.01
5,252
1,117
0.04
0.01
Bulgaria
0.13
77.43
15,356
3,544
0.08
0.02
6,356
1,467
0.11
0.04
Croatia
0.07
76.12
22,439
10,221
0.06
0.04
9,547
4,349
0.09
0.06
Czech Republic
0.17
76.84
32,431
10,797
0.21
0.09
14,844
4,942
0.33
0.16
Denmark
0.09
76.26
66,191
70,751
0.22
0.30
28,539
30,505
0.33
0.51
Estonia
0.02
74.36
26,361
8,420
0.02
0.01
10,873
3,473
0.03
0.01
Finland
0.09
75.44
38,754
37,171
0.12
0.15
24,416
23,419
0.27
0.38
France
0.97
74.83
130,546
128,327
4.73
5.97
24,478
24,679
3.10
4.40
Georgia
0.08
70.47
12,315
1,371
0.04
0.01
5,315
592
0.05
0.01
Germany
1.35
78.71
89,871
86,369
4.60
5.69
23,917
22,758
4.28
5.83
Gibraltar
0.00
77.2
99,526
90,277
0.00
0.00
na
na
na
na
Greece
0.18
78.07
72,825
50,240
0.50
0.44
15,558
10,733
0.37
0.37
Greenland
0.00
71.66
138,417
136,630
0.00
0.01
na
na
na
na
Hungary
0.17
76.61
32,456
13,562
0.21
0.11
11,063
4,623
0.25
0.15
Iceland
0.00
69.12
73,401
83,031
0.01
0.02
26,929
30,461
0.02
0.03
Ireland
0.06
69.59
89,327
82,555
0.21
0.25
27,197
25,135
0.22
0.30
Italy
0.95
80.42
119,704
98,317
4.30
4.54
22,876
18,604
2.87
3.34
Latvia
0.04
74.57
19,162
6,951
0.03
0.01
8,305
3,013
0.04
0.02
Liechtenstein
0.00
77.2
99,526
90,277
0.00
0.00
na
na
na
na
Lithuania
0.06
72.8
22,126
8,076
0.05
0.02
8,397
3,065
0.06
0.03
Luxembourg
0.01
75.42
182,567
160,030
0.05
0.06
48,968
42,923
0.05
0.06
Macedonia
0.03
69.59
14,606
4,652
0.02
0.01
5,506
1,754
0.02
0.01
Malta
0.01
72.46
75,694
40,471
0.02
0.01
18,526
9,761
0.02
0.01
Moldova
0.07
67.7
8,498
1,155
0.02
0.00
2,212
301
0.02
0.00
Monaco
0.00
77.2
99,526
90,277
0.00
0.00
na
22,065
na
0.00
Netherlands
0.26
75.77
120,086
109,418
1.19
1.39
25,759
23,261
0.89
1.15
Netherlands Antilles
0.00
67.98
76,364
53,813
0.01
0.01
na
12,862
na
0.01
Norway
0.07
74.12
72,254
81,188
0.20
0.29
32,057
36,021
0.31
0.50
Poland
0.64
72.08
24,654
10,438
0.59
0.32
9,661
4,090
0.81
0.49
Portugal
0.17
77.05
53,357
33,421
0.34
0.27
17,089
10,614
0.38
0.34
Romania
0.36
74.29
14,827
4,821
0.20
0.09
5,024
1,634
0.24
0.11
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
0.00
71.67
138,417
136,630
0.00
0.00
na
na
na
na
Serbia and Montenegro
0.17
72.3
12,131
2,457
0.08
0.02
na
1,043
na
0.03
Slovakia
0.09
72.22
23,968
6,779
0.08
0.03
12,619
3,569
0.15
0.06
Slovenia
0.03
77.35
36,672
19,713
0.04
0.03
16,983
9,130
0.07
0.06
Spain
0.67
79
92,253
68,693
2.34
2.24
19,037
14,048
1.68
1.78
Sweden
0.15
75.87
80,091
83,918
0.44
0.60
24,628
25,805
0.47
0.71
Switzerland
0.12
76.69
144,186
170,755
0.64
0.98
28,209
33,407
0.44
0.74
UK
0.96
74.78
128,959
126,832
4.71
5.95
24,252
23,852
3.09
4.35
Ukraine
0.81
74.46
9,890
1,236
0.30
0.05
5,147
643
0.55
0.10
Vatican
0.00
77.2
99,526
90,277
0.00
0.00
na
na
na
na
total:
9.62
26.42
29.19
22.8
27.06
Africa
nation
percent of world population
share of adult population
Net worth per capita (PPP)
Net worth per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world net worth (PPP)
Percent of world net worth (exchange rates)
Real GDP per capita (PPP)
Real GDP per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world GDP (PPP)
Percent of world GDP (exchange rates)
Algeria
0.50
53.68
7,270
2,087
0.14
0.05
6,107
1,754
0.40
0.17
Benin
0.12
43.24
3,370
950
0.02
0.01
1,225
345
0.02
0.01
Burkina Faso
0.19
40.66
2,123
419
0.01
0.00
986
195
0.02
0.01
Burundi
0.11
40.20
1,876
327
0.01
0.00
619
108
0.01
0.00
Cameroon
0.24
45.90
5,272
1,262
0.05
0.01
2,301
551
0.07
0.03
Chad
0.13
42.61
1,728
329
0.01
0.00
959
183
0.02
0.00
Congo, Democratic Republic
0.82
42.06
1,402
180
0.04
0.01
669
86
0.07
0.01
Congo, Republic
0.06
42.69
2,795
1,127
0.01
0.00
2,533
1,022
0.02
0.01
Côte d'Ivoire
0.27
44.99
5,502
1,589
0.06
0.02
2,028
586
0.07
0.03
Eritrea
0.06
43.66
2,349
577
0.01
0.00
747
203
0.01
0.00
Ethiopia
1.13
43.81
1,414
193
0.06
0.01
720
98
0.11
0.02
Ghana
0.33
47.41
4,129
775
0.05
0.01
1,376
258
0.06
0.02
Guinea
0.14
45.96
7,734
1,062
0.04
0.01
2,961
407
0.05
0.01
Guinea-Bissau
0.02
43.09
1,673
409
0.00
0.00
738
180
0.00
0.00
Kenya
0.50
43.69
3,671
966
0.07
0.02
1,316
346
0.09
0.03
Libya
0.09
53.97
17,339
6,285
0.06
0.03
na
6,484
na
0.11
Madagascar
0.27
44.83
2,223
633
0.02
0.01
877
249
0.03
0.01
Malawi
0.19
43.17
2,683
546
0.02
0.01
808
165
0.02
0.01
Mali
0.19
40.28
1,798
383
0.01
0.00
996
212
0.03
0.01
Mauritania
0.04
46.31
5,207
1,231
0.01
0.00
1,729
409
0.01
0.00
Mauritius
0.02
65.70
62,338
15,983
0.05
0.02
14,406
3,693
0.04
0.01
Morocco
0.48
55.31
13,603
3,687
0.25
0.09
4,299
1,165
0.27
0.11
Mozambique
0.29
45.16
2,817
545
0.03
0.01
1,113
215
0.04
0.01
Niger
0.19
40.39
1,756
329
0.01
0.00
902
169
0.02
0.01
Nigeria
1.93
43.73
960
377
0.07
0.04
826
325
0.21
0.12
Rwanda
0.13
40.50
2,951
638
0.01
0.00
976
211
0.02
0.01
Reunion
0.01
62.67
17,339
6,285
0.01
0.00
na
9,014
na
0.02
Senegal
0.17
43.96
4,294
1,172
0.03
0.01
1,681
459
0.04
0.01
Sierra Leone
0.07
47.38
2,044
353
0.01
0.00
734
127
0.01
0.00
Somalia
0.12
45.76
2,349
577
0.01
0.00
na
235
na
0.01
South Africa
0.75
55.86
16,266
5,977
0.46
0.22
8,017
2,946
0.79
0.42
Sudan
0.54
48.64
2,349
577
0.05
0.02
1,756
367
0.13
0.04
Swaziland
0.02
43.42
13,239
3,377
0.01
0.00
5,047
1,287
0.01
0.00
Tanzania
0.57
44.79
1,246
681
0.03
0.02
490
268
0.04
0.03
Togo
0.09
44.35
2,214
645
0.01
0.00
926
270
0.01
0.00
Tunisia
0.16
58.95
21,237
6,042
0.13
0.05
7,130
2,029
0.15
0.06
Uganda
0.40
38.55
2,905
725
0.04
0.01
1,030
257
0.05
0.02
Zambia
0.18
42.20
2,121
789
0.01
0.01
841
313
0.02
0.01
Zimbabwe
0.21
44.71
6,863
1,465
0.05
0.01
2,607
556
0.07
0.02
total:
10.66
1.52
0.54
2.36
1.01
Middle East
nation
percent of world population
share of adult population
Net worth per capita (PPP)
Net worth per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world net worth (PPP)
Percent of world net worth (exchange rates)
Real GDP per capita (PPP)
Real GDP per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world GDP (PPP)
Percent of world GDP (exchange rates)
Afghanistan
0.39
42.90
6,561
1,164
0.10
0.02
na
101
na
0.01
Armenia
0.05
64.44
9,545
1,548
0.02
0.00
3,068
498
0.02
0.00
Azerbaijan
0.13
59.14
6,717
1,237
0.03
0.01
3,555
654
0.06
0.02
Bahrain
0.01
63.93
105,287
130,833
0.04
0.07
15,870
11,775
0.02
0.02
Egypt
1.11
52.83
16,650
5,754
0.70
0.31
4,406
1,523
0.64
0.32
Iran
1.09
51.31
17,569
11,621
0.73
0.62
7,202
4,764
1.04
0.98
Iraq
0.41
46.70
12,343
3,480
0.19
0.07
na
766
na
0.06
Israel
0.1
17.29
64,034
59,207
0.88
1.05
19,148
17,705
0.92
1.22
Jordan
0.08
49.76
12,217
4,825
0.04
0.02
4,282
1,691
0.05
0.03
Kazakhstan
0.25
63.24
14,281
2,119
0.13
0.03
8,331
1,236
0.27
0.06
Kuwait
0.04
66.88
105,287
130,833
0.15
0.23
15,743
15,947
0.08
0.11
Kyrgyzstan
0.08
54.64
5,174
433
0.02
0.00
3,205
268
0.03
0.00
Lebanon
0.06
59.56
20,526
12,828
0.04
0.03
6,089
3,806
0.04
0.04
Oman
0.04
53.26
18,943
11,130
0.03
0.02
12,491
7,615
0.07
0.06
Pakistan
2.34
47.65
6,296
1,255
0.56
0.14
2,158
430
0.67
0.19
Palestinian Territory
0.05
43.37
12,343
3,480
0.02
0.01
na
na
na
na
Qatar
0.01
67.09
105,287
130,833
0.04
0.06
na
30,558
na
0.06
Saudi Arabia
0.35
51.16
22,864
16,206
0.31
0.28
12,374
8,771
0.58
0.59
Syria
0.28
47.11
8,789
10,046
0.09
0.14
4,338
4,958
0.16
0.26
Tajikistan
0.10
46.54
2,942
298
0.01
0.00
1,380
140
0.02
0.00
Turkey
1.12
59.20
23,798
9,601
1.01
0.52
7,414
2,991
1.10
0.63
Turkmenistan
0.07
53.14
12,343
3,480
0.03
0.01
3,668
1,062
0.04
0.01
United Arab Emirates
0.05
68.76
105,287
130,833
0.21
0.34
na
18,906
na
0.19
Uzbekistan
0.41
51.83
6,561
1,164
0.10
0.02
1,516
552
0.08
0.04
Yemen
0.29
40.19
1,425
537
0.02
0.01
1,293
487
0.05
0.03
total:
9.88
5.07
3.13
5.69
4.1
Asia
nation
percent of world population
share of adult population
Net worth per capita (PPP)
Net worth per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world net worth (PPP)
Percent of world net worth (exchange rates)
Real GDP per capita (PPP)
Real GDP per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world GDP (PPP)
Percent of world GDP (exchange rates)
Bangladesh
2.12
51.57
6,389
1,250
0.51
0.13
1,772
347
0.50
0.14
Brunei Darussalam
0.01
60.06
105,287
130,833
0.02
0.03
na
12,922
na
0.01
China
20.57
67.27
11,267
2,613
8.77
2.62
3,844
891
10.45
3.47
Hong Kong (China SAR)
0.11
76.61
202,189
173,353
0.83
0.92
27,893
23,915
0.40
0.49
Macao (China SAR)
0.10
5.09
73,072
44,794
0.28
0.22
23,118
14,172
0.31
0.27
Cambodia
0.21
45.88
4,883
753
0.04
0.01
1,859
287
0.05
0.01
India
16.78
55.88
6,513
1,112
4.14
0.91
2,684
458
5.95
1.45
Indonesia
3.44
59.49
7,973
1,440
1.04
0.24
4,035
729
1.83
0.47
Japan
2.09
79.45
124,858
180,837
9.86
18.37
25,924
37,547
7.15
14.84
Kiribati
0.00
52.86
10,084
4,153
0.00
0.00
na
574
na
0.00
Korea, North
0.36
65.41
6,561
1,164
0.09
0.02
na
476
na
0.03
Korea, South
0.77
71.06
45,849
29,687
1.33
1.11
14,937
9,671
1.52
1.41
Laos
0.09
46.75
6,561
1,164
0.02
0.00
1,551
328
0.02
0.01
Malaysia
0.38
56.28
15,046
6,137
0.22
0.11
9,422
3,843
0.47
0.27
Myanmar
0.78
57.18
6,561
1,164
0.19
0.04
na
877
na
0.13
Nepal
0.40
48.53
6,561
1,164
0.10
0.02
1,321
227
0.07
0.02
Niue
0.00
52.85
10,084
4,153
0.00
0.00
na
na
na
na
Philippines
1.25
51.75
14,182
3,533
0.67
0.21
4,065
1,013
0.67
0.24
Singapore
0.07
71.94
113,631
90,960
0.28
0.29
28,644
22,929
0.25
0.29
Sri Lanka
0.33
63.93
10,617
2,329
0.13
0.04
3,841
842
0.17
0.05
Taiwan
0.01
3489.19
100,009
73,654
0.03
0.03
19,714
14,519
0.02
0.02
Thailand
1.01
65.37
14,824
4,390
0.57
0.22
6,715
1,989
0.90
0.38
Timor-Leste
0.01
42.02
6,561
1,164
0.00
0.00
na
457
na
0.00
Vietnam
1.29
55.96
5,633
1,112
0.28
0.07
2,012
397
0.34
0.10
total:
52.18
29.4
25.61
31.07
24.1
Other
nation
percent of world population
share of adult population
Net worth per capita (PPP)
Net worth per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world net worth (PPP)
Percent of world net worth (exchange rates)
Real GDP per capita (PPP)
Real GDP per capita (exchange rates)
Percent of world GDP (PPP)
Percent of world GDP (exchange rates)
Australia
0.31
71.78
90,906
67,990
1.08
1.04
27,193
20,338
1.13
1.21
New Zealand
0.06
70.14
55,823
37,026
0.13
0.11
20,008
13,271
0.17
0.16
Israel
0.1
17.29
64,034
59,207
0.88
1.05
19,148
17,705
0.92
1.22
Russian Federation
2.41
73.34
17,610
3,036
1.61
0.36
9,996
1,723
3.18
0.79
total:
3.14
3.7
2.56
5.4
3.38
Net worth per capita (2016)
Data for the following tables is obtained from The UN-WIDER World Distribution of Household Wealth Report.[2]