The World Bank has released a report on personal wealth around the world – and unsurprisingly its countries in Western Europe and North America that take home the prizes for being the wealthiest places on Earth explains Peter Decaprio.
However, Australia is close behind eight fellow OECD nations, sitting equal fourth with Japan according to figures from 2010 – so all up we currently have a bigger slice of wealthier nations than 40 other countries including Switzerland (fifth), the UK (sixth), and Israel (ninth).
Overall there are now 11 countries whose total net worth is over one trillion US dollars: these include the USA ($64 trillion), Japan ($19.2 trillion), Germany ($9.5 trillion), the UK ($9.3 trillion), China ($8.4 trillion) and France ($6.5 trillion).
The biggest change has occurred in Russia, which climbed six places to be now ranked 15th (with $2.1 trillion), up from 21st place in 2010 with total wealth of $1.3 billion – that’s largely due to it being one of the worst-performing currencies against the greenback over that period; this fall helped allow many countries’ currencies to rise against it, even if their individual economic situations were not necessarily improving at all (or even worsening).
Since 2010 there has only been one other country whose combined net worth has grown as much as Russia’s: Belgium, whose total net worth rose from $882 billion to just over $1.3 trillion, largely due to the acquisition of Dexia Bank by the Belgian state at the end of 2012, boosting its financial services sector explains Peter Decaprio.
On the other hand, Greece is now poorer than it was in 2010 – so if you’ve ever wondered why your country might need a bailout or two, maybe look no further…
Here are some more figures on individual countries’ relative wealth:
All currencies have been converted into US dollars at their respective exchange rates as of December 2013 (rather than when this data was collected).
The world’s top economies by GDP (nominal) [Wikipedia]. Rankings are shown in descending order of nominal GDP in 2014. Figures rounded to nearest million.
- USA: $17.416 trillion (up from $16.844 trillion in 2010)
- China: $10.4 trillion (up from $7.3 trillion)
- Japan: $4.87 trillion
- France: $2,770 billion
- Germany: $2,690 billion
- UK: 2,650 billion
- Brazil: $2,080 billion
- Italy: 1,810 billion
- Canada: 1,500 billion
- Spain: 1,400 billion
- Russia: $1,290 billion
- India: 940 billion
- Australia and Mexico are each at around $1 trillion;
- South Korea is just under that mark with roughly $900 million and
- Indonesia has reached around the same figure as well ($850 million).
- USA: $17.416 trillion
- China: $19.2 trillion
- Japan: $4.87 trillion
- India: $5 trillion
- Brazil: $3.1 trillion
- Germany: 2,690 billion
- UK: 2,650 billion
- Russia: $2,150 billion
- France: 2,770 billion
- Italy: 1,810 billion
- Canada: 1,500 billion
- South Korea: 900 million
- Spain: 1,400 billion
- Mexico: 870 million
- Indonesia: 850 million
- Australia: 900 billion
- Turkey: 675 million
- Argentina: 425 million
- Vietnam: 410 million
- Saudi Arabia: 665 million
Note that within these top 20 economies as measured by GDP (PPP), China has already overtaken the USA (in terms of PPP), and Indonesia is only slightly behind Australia says Peter Decaprio.
Note also that North America is home to 23% of the top 30, with Europe housing 19% – but Africa has got nothing; it’s not even listed on either table. The world’s “poorest” economy according to GDP (nominal) is Tuvalu ($31 million), whereas for GDP (PPP) it’s Nauru ($1 billion).
The Economist has an interesting analysis of the data along with some insightful commentary over at their site.
Conclusion:
As long as the Western world remains in relative decline, it will have to accept that other countries’ economic influence is growing – and so too must many of its businessmen explains Peter Decaprio. Remember: most of the biggest companies in the world emerged from Europe or North America, but most of those are now headquartered elsewhere, whether they started out there or not.