The world’s population of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) expanded in 2010, as did their wealth, but the growth was more moderate than in 2009 when many markets ricocheted back from the significant crisis-related losses of 2008. Globally, HNWIs’ financial wealth grew 9.7% in 2010 to reach US$42.7 trillion, surpassing the 2007 pre-crisis peak. The global population of HNWIs grew 8.3% to 10.9 million.

Ultra-HNWIs posted slightly stronger-than-average gains in their numbers and wealth. The global population of Ultra-HNWIs grew by 10.2% in 2010 and its wealth by 11.5%. As a result, Ultra-HNWIs accounted for 36.1% of global HNWI wealth, up from 35.5%, while representing only 0.9% of the global HNWI population.

In regional and country trends:

• The population of HNWIs in Asia-Pacific, at 3.3 million individuals, is now the second-largest in the world behind North America, and ahead of Europe for the first time.
• Europe’s HNWI wealth totaled US$10.2 trillion after growing 7.2% in 2010.
• North American HNWI wealth hit US$11.6 trillion in 2010, up 9.1%.
• Latin America saw another modest gain (6.2%) in its HNWI population in 2010 and HNWI wealth rose 9.2%.
• India’s HNWI population entered the Top 12 for the first time and Australia edged up another notch to number 9.