Rich Chinese outnumber wealthy Americans for first time – Credit Suisse

“This year, for the first time, China recorded more members of the global top 10 percent (100 million) than the United States (99 million),” the Swiss bank reported in its annual wealth survey released on Monday.

“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.

According to the study, 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 (or 44 percent of the global total). The US added more than half of this increase, creating 675,000 new millionaires.

A decline in average wealth in Australia resulted in 124,000 fewer millionaires, 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.

Credit Suisse projects that global wealth will rise by 27 percent over the next five years to $459 trillion. The number of millionaires is expected to grow over this period to almost 63 million. According to the bank, global wealth increased by 2.6 percent over the past year.

The bank noted that wealth inequality declined in most countries during the early years of this century. The share of the world’s bottom 90 percent accounts for 18 percent of global wealth, compared to 11 percent in 2000, it said.

“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.”