We certainly live in the best country in the world, at the best time in history.
According to market research company New World Wealth, the world has accumulated $215 trillion in private wealth, a 12% increase over the last year.
Incredibly, the vast majority of this wealth – about 73.5% – is held by just 10 countries and when you look at the chart below you’ll see that Australia is punching well above its weight:-
Rank | Country | Wealth ($ Trillions) | Change (2007-2017, %) |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | United States | $62.6 | 20% |
#2 | China | $24.8 | 198% |
#3 | Japan | $19.5 | 22% |
#4 | United Kingdom | $9.9 | -2% |
#5 | Germany | $9.7 | 0% |
#6 | India | $8.2 | 160% |
#7 | France | $6.6 | -11% |
#8 | Canada | $6.4 | 25% |
#9 | Australia | $6.1 | 83% |
#10 | Italy | $4.3 | -19% |
Over the last decade, China and India have more than doubled their wealth.
Meanwhile, developed economies like the United States and Japan have increased wealth at modest rates – and some, like Italy and France, even lost modest amounts of private wealth over that duration of time.
FUTURE PROJECTIONS 
And according to New World Wealth, the best is yet to come for Australia, as the same 10 countries will dominate the landscape – but the order will change over the next decade with Australia moving up the ranks increasing its wealth at a rate that is very impressive for a developed economy.
By 2027, it’s expected to be the world’s seventh richest country in terms of private wealth, with a total of $10.4 trillion.
Proj. Rank | Country | Proj. Wealth ($ Trillions, 2027) | Change (2017-2027, %) |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | United States | $75.1 | 20% |
#2 | China | $69.4 | 180% |
#3 | Japan | $25.4 | 30% |
#4 | India | $24.7 | 200% |
#5 | United Kingdom | $10.9 | 10% |
#6 | Germany | $10.6 | 10% |
#7 | Australia | $10.4 | 70% |
#8 | Canada | $8.3 | 30% |
#9 | France | $7.3 | 10% |
#10 | Italy | $4.7 | 10% |

Subscribe & don’t miss a single episode of Michael Yardney’s podcast
Hear Michael & a select panel of guest experts discuss property investment, success & money related topics. Subscribe now, whether you're on an Apple or Android handset.
Need help listening to Michael Yardney’s podcast from your phone or tablet?
We have created easy to follow instructions for you whether you're on iPhone / iPad or an Android device.

Prefer to subscribe via email?
Join Michael Yardney's inner circle of daily subscribers and get into the head of Australia's best property investment advisor and a wide team of leading property researchers and commentators.
'The 10 Wealthiest Countries in the world – Look at Australia! [infographic]' have 2 comments
September 16, 2018 Stuart
Hi Michael,
Thanks for posting this infographic, which was very interesting, re 2007 to 2017.
My only question is why the UK, France, Germany and Italy are all going to have equally the same 10% growth 2017 to 2027, while they are furthered ageing over this period, in very high debt, with a back drop of rising interest rates possible and mired in very difficult to overcome social tension, with younger people getting generally inferior employment conditions (casualised, low pensions and so on), which don’t provide the positive feed back loop for rising wealth.
The more accurate projection might be more of the same for India, China and US due to economic conditions, while also more of the same for Canada and Australia both of which are driven by resources and very high levels of immigration to our cities boosting populations and housing demand. If we stay at 24 million in Australia, that takes out the education boost, which is mainly PR driven.
September 16, 2018 Michael Yardney
Stuart – we know how accurate most economists predictions are – don’t we?