Global wealth rises 10.8% in 2025, creating nearly 1M new dollar millionaires

Global personal wealth rose 10.8% in US dollar terms in 2025, driven by strong financial markets and rising non-financial assets like property, according to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2026. The surge created nearly one million new USD millionaires, lifting the global total to about 57.5 million.

The growth was uneven: the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region posted the strongest gains, yet South Africa remains the sole African country among the 56 markets tracked. It added roughly 3,840 new millionaires in 2025 (4.1% growth), bringing its total to around 97,000. No other African nation appeared in the report, underscoring the continent's limited share in the current wealth boom. Currency effects also played a role - a weaker US dollar boosted euro-denominated wealth, while markets like the UK and Netherlands saw real-term wealth decline despite nominal gains.

For Nigerians, the data highlights the widening wealth gap between advanced economies and Africa. It may reinforce incentives to pursue overseas education or jobs (Japa), invest in foreign-currency assets, or build businesses that tap into global wealth flows. Consider allocating savings to hard-currency or offshore instruments, upgrading skills for high-demand overseas roles, and monitoring how currency shifts affect local investments.

Will you pursue overseas upskilling, offshore savings, or local ventures that link to global wealth streams?

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/07/12/top-20-richest-countries-by-average-wealth-per-adult-in-2026/