UBS Says Global Wealth Jumped 10.8% in 2025 as Median Wealth Fell in Most Markets
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Jun 30
UBS Says Global Wealth Jumped 10.8% in 2025 as Median Wealth Fell in Most Markets
3 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jun 30
Summary
Global personal wealth rose 10.8% in 2025—the fastest pace since 2017—even as median wealth declined across most of the 56 markets covered in UBS’s latest wealth report.
Nearly 1 million new millionaires were created, while the share of adults with less than $10,000 in wealth fell to just over 41% from nearly 75% in 2000, reflecting a shrinking global low-wealth base.
The U.S. showed the sharpest gap between average and typical wealth: average wealth per adult reached $696,277, second only to Switzerland, but median wealth was $68,998, ranking 28th.
UBS said industrialization across Asia, Latin America and parts of sub-Saharan Africa is expanding the global consumer class, with Brookings projecting a 5.3 billion-strong global middle class by 2030, two-thirds in Asia.
The report also highlighted intensifying concentration at the top, while UBS chief economist Paul Donovan warned high house-price-to-income ratios risk pushing younger households away from conventional saving and ownership.
With a booming global middle class, why is median wealth falling in most countries?
As the ultra-rich's wealth spins beyond borders, are traditional tax systems becoming obsolete?
If homeownership is out of reach, what new paths to prosperity will the next generation find?
Global Wealth Soars 10.8% in 2025 While Median Wealth Falls: The New Inequality Paradox
Overview
In 2025, global personal wealth surged by 10.8%, continuing a steady rise from 4.6% in 2024 and 4.2% in 2023. This rapid growth led to a sharp increase in the number of millionaires worldwide and intensified demand for specialized financial advisory services. However, the benefits of this prosperity were not shared equally. While average wealth climbed, median wealth fell in many markets, showing that gains were concentrated at the top. This widening gap highlights a paradox: global wealth is growing fast, but most people are not seeing real improvements in their financial well-being.