Global wealth surged 10.8% in 2025, adding nearly one million new millionaires

The fastest annual wealth growth since 2017 was driven by equity markets and a weak dollar, widening the gap between rich and poor.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-07 03:05 UTC · 1 min read

Global personal wealth expanded by 10.8% in 2025, marking the largest annual increase since 2017, according to a new report from UBS.

The surge added nearly one million new millionaires to the global population, underscoring the accelerating concentration of assets among the wealthy.

6% growth recorded in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of wealth expansion.

The growth was fueled by strong equity markets and a weaker US dollar, which boosted the value of assets held in other currencies.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa saw the strongest growth among the rich, with the gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population continuing to widen.

The 10.8% increase more than doubled the 4.6% growth recorded in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of wealth expansion.

The data highlights the persistent impact of financial market performance on household balance sheets, with asset owners benefiting disproportionately from the rally.