The Worlds Wealth Gap is Shrinking

THE WORLD’S WEALTH GAP IS SHRINKING Per capita wealth in the wealthiest countries around the world is still 45 times that of the poorest countries, but a decade ago the richest countries had 135 times as much wealth as the poor. Wealthiest Countries By Financial Assets 39 percent of the world's wealth belongs to Americans, while Western Europe accounts for another 31 percent. In Eastern Europe wealth has grown an average of more than 16 percent annually since 2000. Asia and Latin America are averaging annual gains of more than 12 percent. The United States and Europe have carried average increases of only 3 percent or less every year. 1. Country Name (% of Global assets share) Financial assets: $ USD (billions) (% increase from 2009) Financial assets per capita: $ USD (billions) GDP per capita: $USD (billions) 1. United States (38.94%) 2. Japan (13.71%) Financial assets: $41,590.9 B (+6.8%) Financial assets: $14,642.5 B (+2.3%) Financial assets per capita: $132,178 Financial assets per capita: $115,159 GDP per capita: $43,563 GDP per capita: $36,952 3. Germany (5.68%) 4. United Kingdom (5.68%) Financial assets: $6,064.6 B (+5.4%) Financial assets: $6,064.9 B (+12.6%) Financial assets per capita: $73,850 Financial assets per capita: $98,511 GDP per capita: $39,339 GDP per capita: $34,209 5. France (4.66%) 6. Italy (4.28%) Financial assets: $4,975 B (+9%) Financial assets: $4,576 B (+2.9%) Financial assets per capita: $79,801 Financial assets per capita: $76.434 GDP per capita: $41,006 GDP per capita: $33,821 7. China (4.13%) 8. Canada (2.46%) Financial assets: $4,407 B (+29.3%) Financial assets: $2,626 B (+3.4%) Financial assets per capita: $3,275 Financial assets per capita: $78,240 GDP per capita: $36,603 GDP per capita: $3,769 9. Spain (2.13%) 10. Australia (1.85%) Financial assets: $2277 B (+3.2%) Financial assets: $1,981 B (+14%) Financial assets per capita: $50,705 GDP per capita: $30,862 Financial assets per capita: $93,048 GDP per capita: $48,066 11. Netherlands (1.85%) Other Countries (15.2%) Financial assets: $1978.2 B (+5.2%) Financial assets per capita: $119,236 GDP per capita: $46,228 Wealth Distribution by Region Wealth in Trillions (USD) % Change 2008-2009 American dominance of the world's financial assets +17.8% is slipping. Since 2007, the 11 ....... United States' wealth has 10 +14.2% ..... dropped 12 percent, second only to Greece, which had a drop of 14 percent. +30.9% +15% Key of Countries North America Europe Asia-Pacific 3 Latin America +5.1% Middle East +20.2% Africa 2006 2007 2008 2009 Where The Millionaires Are = 250,00 Households 1. United States - 4,715,000 15% Increase from 2008 56% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 2. Japan - 1,230,000 7. Switzerland - 283,000 5.9% Increase from 2008 21% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 8.4% Increase from 2008 44% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 3. China - 670,000 As China's leading growth of millionaire households continues to grow with 30.7 percent growth from 2008 to 2009, the U.S. households are still growing but at a much slower pace, 15.1 percent. 30.7% Increase from 2008 50% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 4. United Kingdom - 485,000 8. France - 280,000 11.5% Increase from 2008 11.2% Increase from 2008 23% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 19% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 5. Germany - 430,000 9. Taiwan - 230,000 23.1% Increase from 2008 21.1% Increase from 2008 22% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 37% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 6. Italy - 300,000 10. Hong Kong- 205,000 7.6% Increase from 2008 16.2% Increase from 2008 27% of total wealth shared by millionaire households 73% of total wealth shared by millionaire households Sources: huffingtonpost.com | us.capgemini.com nytimes.com | beg.com | moneycental.msn.com