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The countries with the highest concentrations of billionaires
- "The top 1%" has evolved into a term used to describe almost mythical-like figures who together control almost US$10 trillion, which is more than the GDP of China, the world's second strongest economy.
The world's wealth is increasingly becoming more concentrated at the top, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Unsurprisingly, the number of billionaires in the world has surged. In 2017, the number reached 2,754, an increase of 14.9%, as reported by The Guardian. Visual Capitalist, a Canadian media and news firm, ranked the countries with the greatest concentration of billionaires per capita.
Are you surprised by the results?
© Getty Images / Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
25. India
- People per billionaire: 13,108,911 /
Total number of billionaires: 101
Richest billionaire: Mukesh Ambani /
Company: Reliance Industries Limited /
Net worth: US$40.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
24. Indonesia
- People per billionaire: 13,055,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 20 /
Richest billionaire: Robert Budi Hartono /
Company: Djarum /
Net worth: US$15.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
23. Mexico
- People per billionaire: 8,500,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 18 /
Richest billionaire: Carlos Slim Helú /
Company: Telmex, Grupo Carso /
Net worth: US$63.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
22. Philippines
- People per billionaire: 7,378,571 /
Total number of billionaires: 14 /
Richest billionaire: Henry Sy /
Company: SM Group /
Net worth: US$19.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
21. Brazil
- People per billionaire: 4,830,233 /
Total number of billionaires: 43 /
Richest billionaire: Jorge Paulo Lemann /
Company: 3G Capital /
Net worth: US$25.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
20. China
- People per billionaire: 4,322,884 /
Total number of billionaires: 319 /
Richest billionaire: Wang Jianlin /
Company: Dalian Wanda Group /
Net worth: US$30.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
19. Japan
- People per billionaire: 3,848,485 /
Total number of billionaires: 33 /
Richest billionaire: Masayoshi Son /
Company: SoftBank Group /
Net worth: US$$21.6 billion (Source: Forbes).
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
18. Thailand
- People per billionaire: 3,443,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 20 /
Richest billionaire: Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi/
Company: ThaiBev /
Net worth: US$16.9 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
17. Turkey
- People per billionaire: 2,741,724 /
Total number of billionaires: 29 /
Richest billionaire: Murat Ülker /
Company: Yıldız Holding /
Net worth: US$4.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
16. Spain
- People per billionaire: 1,862,400 /
Total number of billionaires: 25 /
Richest billionaire: Amancio Ortega /
Company: Inditex (Zara) /
Net worth: US$69.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
15. France
- People per billionaire: 1,760,526 /
Total number of billionaires: 38 /
Richest billionaire: Bernard Arnault /
Company: LVMH /
Net worth: US$86.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
14. Russia
- People per billionaire: 1,503,125 /
Total number of billionaires: 96 /
Richest billionaire: Leonid Mikhelson /
Company: Novatek /
Net worth: US$18.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
13. Italy
- People per billionaire: 1,442,857 /
Total number of billionaires: 42 /
Richest billionaire: Maria Franca Fissolo /
Company: Ferrero SpA /
Net worth: US$2.1 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
12. South Korea
- People per billionaire: 1,348,684 /
Total number of billionaires: 38 /
Richest billionaire: Lee Kun-hee /
Company: Samsung Group /
Net worth: US$20.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
11. United Kingdom
- People per billionaire: 1,215,566 /
Total number of billionaires: 54 /
Richest billionaire: S.P. Hinduja /
Company: Hinduja Group /
Net worth: US$19.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
10. Canada
- People per billionaire: 930,513 /
Total number of billionaires: 39 /
Richest billionaire: David Thomson /
Company: Thomson Reuters Corporation/
Net worth: US$24.4 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
9. Taiwan
- People per billionaire: 759,677 /
Total number of billionaires: 31 /
Richest billionaire: Terry Gou /
Company: Foxconn Technology Group /
Net worth: US$8.1 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
8. Australia
- People per billionaire: 731,212 /
Total number of billionaires: 33 /
Richest billionaire: Gina Rinehart /
Company: Hancock Prospecting /
Net worth: US$18.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
7. Germany
- People per billionaire: 725,175 /
Total number of billionaires: 114 /
Richest billionaire: Beate Heister /
Company: Aldi /
Net worth: US$29.7 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
6. United States
- People per billionaire: 571,858 /
Total number of billionaires: 565 /
Richest billionaire: Jeff Bezos /
Company: Amazon /
Net worth: US$130.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
5. Israel
- People per billionaire: 474,833 /
Total number of billionaires: 18 /
Richest billionaire: Eyal Ofer /
Company: Ofer Global /
Net worth: US$9.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
4. Sweden
- People per billionaire: 319,452 /
Total number of billionaires: 31 /
Richest billionaire: Stefan Persson /
Company: H&M /
Net worth: US$16.1 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
3. Singapore
- People per billionaire: 267,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 21 /
Richest billionaire: Robert and Philip Ng /
Company: Sino Group /
Net worth: US$10.9 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
2. Switzerland
- People per billionaire: 232,556 /
Total number of billionaires: 36 /
Richest billionaire: Ernesto Bertarelli /
Company: Waypoint Capital, Merck Serono/
Net worth: US$8.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
1. Hong Kong
- People per billionaire: 109,657 /
Total number of billionaires: 67 /
Richest billionaire: Li Ka-shing /
Company: Cheung Kong Holdings /
Net worth: US$34.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Total vs. concentration - The United States outnumbers all other countries in total number of billionaires with a whopping 565. But when measured against its population, the US loses considerable ground. Hong Kong, in turn, boasts 67 billionaires in just one city of about seven million.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Capital flight - China has been accumulating billionaires rapidly in recent years. However, the country also loses many of its ultra-rich population to capital flight, which means they relocate elsewhere. The countries that lose the most millionaires are France, China, Brazil, India, and Turkey, according to Visual Capitalist.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Zero billionaires - Of the world's 195 countries, more than 100 are not home to any billionaires. This includes nations like Lithuania, Haiti, Ethiopia, Belarus, and Andorra.
© Shutterstock
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Billionaires vs. population - In turn, some countries that did make the list, such as India and Indonesia, are home to a number of billionaires but rank low in terms of concentration. The odds of running into a billionaire in either country is 1 in 13 million.
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
The countries with the highest concentrations of billionaires
- "The top 1%" has evolved into a term used to describe almost mythical-like figures who together control almost US$10 trillion, which is more than the GDP of China, the world's second strongest economy.
The world's wealth is increasingly becoming more concentrated at the top, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Unsurprisingly, the number of billionaires in the world has surged. In 2017, the number reached 2,754, an increase of 14.9%, as reported by The Guardian. Visual Capitalist, a Canadian media and news firm, ranked the countries with the greatest concentration of billionaires per capita.
Are you surprised by the results?
© Getty Images / Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
25. India
- People per billionaire: 13,108,911 /
Total number of billionaires: 101
Richest billionaire: Mukesh Ambani /
Company: Reliance Industries Limited /
Net worth: US$40.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
24. Indonesia
- People per billionaire: 13,055,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 20 /
Richest billionaire: Robert Budi Hartono /
Company: Djarum /
Net worth: US$15.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
23. Mexico
- People per billionaire: 8,500,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 18 /
Richest billionaire: Carlos Slim Helú /
Company: Telmex, Grupo Carso /
Net worth: US$63.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
22. Philippines
- People per billionaire: 7,378,571 /
Total number of billionaires: 14 /
Richest billionaire: Henry Sy /
Company: SM Group /
Net worth: US$19.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
21. Brazil
- People per billionaire: 4,830,233 /
Total number of billionaires: 43 /
Richest billionaire: Jorge Paulo Lemann /
Company: 3G Capital /
Net worth: US$25.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
20. China
- People per billionaire: 4,322,884 /
Total number of billionaires: 319 /
Richest billionaire: Wang Jianlin /
Company: Dalian Wanda Group /
Net worth: US$30.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
19. Japan
- People per billionaire: 3,848,485 /
Total number of billionaires: 33 /
Richest billionaire: Masayoshi Son /
Company: SoftBank Group /
Net worth: US$$21.6 billion (Source: Forbes).
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
18. Thailand
- People per billionaire: 3,443,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 20 /
Richest billionaire: Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi/
Company: ThaiBev /
Net worth: US$16.9 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
17. Turkey
- People per billionaire: 2,741,724 /
Total number of billionaires: 29 /
Richest billionaire: Murat Ülker /
Company: Yıldız Holding /
Net worth: US$4.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
16. Spain
- People per billionaire: 1,862,400 /
Total number of billionaires: 25 /
Richest billionaire: Amancio Ortega /
Company: Inditex (Zara) /
Net worth: US$69.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
15. France
- People per billionaire: 1,760,526 /
Total number of billionaires: 38 /
Richest billionaire: Bernard Arnault /
Company: LVMH /
Net worth: US$86.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
14. Russia
- People per billionaire: 1,503,125 /
Total number of billionaires: 96 /
Richest billionaire: Leonid Mikhelson /
Company: Novatek /
Net worth: US$18.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
13. Italy
- People per billionaire: 1,442,857 /
Total number of billionaires: 42 /
Richest billionaire: Maria Franca Fissolo /
Company: Ferrero SpA /
Net worth: US$2.1 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
12. South Korea
- People per billionaire: 1,348,684 /
Total number of billionaires: 38 /
Richest billionaire: Lee Kun-hee /
Company: Samsung Group /
Net worth: US$20.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
11. United Kingdom
- People per billionaire: 1,215,566 /
Total number of billionaires: 54 /
Richest billionaire: S.P. Hinduja /
Company: Hinduja Group /
Net worth: US$19.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
10. Canada
- People per billionaire: 930,513 /
Total number of billionaires: 39 /
Richest billionaire: David Thomson /
Company: Thomson Reuters Corporation/
Net worth: US$24.4 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
9. Taiwan
- People per billionaire: 759,677 /
Total number of billionaires: 31 /
Richest billionaire: Terry Gou /
Company: Foxconn Technology Group /
Net worth: US$8.1 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
8. Australia
- People per billionaire: 731,212 /
Total number of billionaires: 33 /
Richest billionaire: Gina Rinehart /
Company: Hancock Prospecting /
Net worth: US$18.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
7. Germany
- People per billionaire: 725,175 /
Total number of billionaires: 114 /
Richest billionaire: Beate Heister /
Company: Aldi /
Net worth: US$29.7 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
6. United States
- People per billionaire: 571,858 /
Total number of billionaires: 565 /
Richest billionaire: Jeff Bezos /
Company: Amazon /
Net worth: US$130.3 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
5. Israel
- People per billionaire: 474,833 /
Total number of billionaires: 18 /
Richest billionaire: Eyal Ofer /
Company: Ofer Global /
Net worth: US$9.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
4. Sweden
- People per billionaire: 319,452 /
Total number of billionaires: 31 /
Richest billionaire: Stefan Persson /
Company: H&M /
Net worth: US$16.1 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
3. Singapore
- People per billionaire: 267,000 /
Total number of billionaires: 21 /
Richest billionaire: Robert and Philip Ng /
Company: Sino Group /
Net worth: US$10.9 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
2. Switzerland
- People per billionaire: 232,556 /
Total number of billionaires: 36 /
Richest billionaire: Ernesto Bertarelli /
Company: Waypoint Capital, Merck Serono/
Net worth: US$8.5 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
1. Hong Kong
- People per billionaire: 109,657 /
Total number of billionaires: 67 /
Richest billionaire: Li Ka-shing /
Company: Cheung Kong Holdings /
Net worth: US$34.2 billion (Source: Forbes)
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Total vs. concentration - The United States outnumbers all other countries in total number of billionaires with a whopping 565. But when measured against its population, the US loses considerable ground. Hong Kong, in turn, boasts 67 billionaires in just one city of about seven million.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Capital flight - China has been accumulating billionaires rapidly in recent years. However, the country also loses many of its ultra-rich population to capital flight, which means they relocate elsewhere. The countries that lose the most millionaires are France, China, Brazil, India, and Turkey, according to Visual Capitalist.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Zero billionaires - Of the world's 195 countries, more than 100 are not home to any billionaires. This includes nations like Lithuania, Haiti, Ethiopia, Belarus, and Andorra.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Billionaires vs. population - In turn, some countries that did make the list, such as India and Indonesia, are home to a number of billionaires but rank low in terms of concentration. The odds of running into a billionaire in either country is 1 in 13 million.
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
The countries with the highest concentrations of billionaires
No, it isn't the United States
© Getty Images / Shutterstock
Studies show that the world's wealth is increasingly becoming more concentrated at the very top, so it is unsurprising that the number of billionaires in the world has surged. In 2017, the number of billionaires worldwide reached 2,754, an increase of 14.9%, according to The Guardian. But where are they and who are they? Visual Capitalist, a Canadian media and news firm, ranked the countries with the greatest concentrations of billionaires per capita.
Do you want to know which country has the most billionaires? Click through the gallery to find out.
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