The top 15 countries with the most billionaires, ranked
15. Singapore saw a drop in billionaires because of negative equity market performance.
14. Canada's wealthy are getting richer faster than the rest of the population.
Number of billionaires: 45
Total billionaire wealth: $87 billion
Ricardo Tranjan, senior researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), told CBC that "the rich are really sprinting ahead" of average Canadians. According to a CCPA report, the richest families are worth $3 billion on average and own as much wealth as three Canadian provinces combined.
13. Italy saw a decrease in billionaire population due to political instability.
Number of billionaires: 47
Total billionaire wealth: $141 billion
In addition to housing nearly 50 billionaires, Italy is home to many destinations frequented by the super rich, including the Amalfi coast, Portofino, Positano, Capri, Cinque Terre, Milan, and Venice.
12. Brazil, too, saw a decrease in billionaires and wealth.
Number of billionaires: 49
Total billionaire wealth: $154 billion
Brazil's wealthy have become more discreet about their wealth in recent years, reported Joe Leahy for Financial Times. Most of the country's billionaires live in São Paulo.
T11. The United Arab Emirates is the largest wealth market in the Middle East.
Number of billionaires: 55
Total billionaire wealth: $165 billion
The UAE is also the 26th-largest wealth market (meaning total wealth held) worldwide, according to "The UAE 2018 Wealth Report". Dubai, which has a strong oil industry, is home to more than half of UAE's billionaires.
T11. France's wealth has been fueled in part by corporate success in recent years.
Number of billionaires: 55
Total billionaire wealth: $195 billion
Many of Frances billionaires, like LVMH founder and CEO Bernard Arnault, are wealthy from success in the global luxury and fashion business, Hugh Carnegy reported for Financial Times.
9. Saudi Arabia's richest billionaires were negatively affected by the country's anti-corruption purge.
Number of billionaires: 57
Total billionaire wealth: $147 billion
Saudi Arabia produces most of its wealth through the sale and export of petroleum products, and is home to the most profitable company in the world, reported Steven John for Business Insider.
8. India's wealth highlights severe income inequality.
Number of billionaires: 82
Total billionaire wealth: $284 billion
As of 2017, India's top 1% held 73% of the country's wealth, according to Business Today, citing an Oxfam report. Mumbai has the largest concentration of billionaires in India.
7. Hong Kong saw a major decrease in billionaires as Asian equity markets declined.
Number of billionaires: 87
Total billionaire wealth: $259 billion
Hong Kong has some of the most expensive real estate in the world, and the ultra-rich live in multimillion-dollar mansions, reported Business Insider's Katie Warren. The average price for a home in Hong Kong was $1.28 million in the first quarter of 2018, she said.
6. Switzerland attracts businesses because of its technological innovation and favorable tax rates.
Number of billionaires: 91
Total billionaire wealth: $240 billion
According to Sean Mowbray of Culture Trip, Switzerland's wealth is fueled by the country's ability to innovate and turn raw products into valuable items, like luxury chocolates or diamond bracelets.
5. The UK's billionaires benefited from a stronger exchange rate against the US dollar.
Number of billionaires: 97
Total billionaire wealth: $209 billion
Overall billionaire wealth in the UK declined by 16%, according to the report, partly because of weakening asset markets. London specifically, however, saw an increase in its billionaire population due to the exchange rate developments.
4. Russia saw an increase in wealth due to the economy's recovery and higher commodity output despite volatile energy prices and geopolitical tensions.
Number of billionaires: 102
Total billionaire wealth: $335 billion
More than half of Russia's billionaires, including the country's richest known billionaire, Leonid Mikhelson, live in Moscow.
3. Germany is Europe's largest national economy, contributing to individual wealth accumulation.
Number of billionaires: 146
Total billionaire wealth: $442 billion
"Germany's rich are super-rich," wrote Derek Scally for The Irish Times. Wealthy Germans tend not to flaunt their money, but treat themselves occasionally, he reported.
2. China accounts for 12% of the global billionaire wealth.
Number of billionaires:285
Total billionaire wealth: $996 billion
In China, billionaires are largely concentrated in Shenzhen and Hangzhou. According to the report, the number of billionaires in the country declined due to the US-China trade war, softer Chinese demand, emerging market volatility, and weakening global growth.
1. The United States is the dominant billionaire country.
Number of billionaires: 705
Total billionaire wealth: $3.013 trillion
Billionaires in the United States have a combined net worth exceeding the total wealth among billionaires of the previous eight highest-ranked countries combined. They account for 27% of the world's billionaires and 35% of global billionaire wealth.
New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles have the highest concentration of billionaires in the country.
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