Credit Suisse report paints a stark picture of global inequality
Less than one per cent of the world’s population now holds about 50 percent of the total private wealth, according to Credit Suisse.
In its annual Global Wealth Report the Swiss bank highlights the uneven distribution of wealth around the world; and it estimates that in 2015, 3.4 billion people, or 71 per cent of the world’s population, had wealth below USD 10,000 each.
This year the UK has moved into third place in terms of countries with the most ‘ultra high net worth’ individuals, behind the US and China. There are now 5,400 UK individuals whose wealth exceeds USD 50 million, 400 more than last year.
In August, data from Barclay’s bank showed that the number of UK millionaires had shot up by 41 per cent over the past five years. Meanwhile low-paid jobs are proliferating and food bank use soaring.
Credit Suisse predicts the number of dollar millionaires globally will rise 46.2 per cent to a record 49.3 million over the next five years, driven by China.
The overall picture in the report is one of stark inequality with more wealth predicted to climb to the already bloated top: once debts have been subtracted, a person needs only USD 3,210 to be among the wealthiest half of world citizens in mid-2015.
However, USD 68,800 is required to be a member of the top 10 per cent of global wealth holders, and USD 759,900 to belong to the top 1 per cent.
Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward
22 Responses to “UK now has third highest number of super-rich in the world”
Harold
If only it was true.
Harold
I wish you were right, there is no connection with being rich and paying tax, there might be between being rich and avoiding tax. They may well invest in property at inflated prices, which could be money laundering in disguise, but little is actual invested into the British economy. These people see the UK with its tax friendly laws as a tax haven opportunity. Even if we adopted the rules the USA applies to its citizens we might start taxing these people who at the moment are no better than wealthy scroungers.