Press Release - Global wealth creation accelerates as 89 new UHNWIs are created each day

Knight Frank Wealth Report 2026

23rd April 2026 – Knight Frank, the leading independent global property consultancy today launched its landmark 20th edition of The Wealth Report which reveals a dramatic acceleration in global wealth creation despite substantial geopolitical uncertainty, concerns over rising interest rates and uneven economic performance. The world’s ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI, US$30m+) population increased by 162,191 between 2021 and 2026 - equivalent to 89 new UHNWIs every day - bringing the global total to 713,626.

Key Findings

• Global UHNW population rises from 551,435 to 713,626 between 2021 and 2026
• The US creates 41% of all new UHNWIs, lifting its total global share from 33% to 35% between 2021 and 2026
• India expands rapidly, recording 63% UHNWI growth, with a further 27% expansion forecast by 2031
• Indonesia (+82%), Saudi Arabia (+63%), Poland (+63%) and Vietnam (+59%) lead five-year projections in terms of rate of growth
• Asia-Pacific holds nearly 31% of global UHNWIs, with China remaining the second-largest wealth hub globally
• Australia’s UHNW population set to rise nearly 60% by 2031, reflecting deep economic diversification
• Middle East wealth rises from 2.4% to 3.1% of global UHNWIs and will maintain share through 2031
• The global billionaire population reaches 3,110 in 2026, with Asia-Pacific home to the largest share

Commenting on the findings, Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank, said: “We are witnessing one of the most significant shifts in global wealth distribution in modern history. The US remains the dominant engine, but we are also seeing rising strength from India and a cohort of fast-maturing economies that are now shaping the global landscape. Despite huge geopolitical shocks and inflationary pressures, private capital has shown extraordinary resilience. Our latest results reflect a deep structural acceleration in wealth creation worldwide.

“Political volatility, tax reform and heavier regulatory friction mean capital is concentrating into a smaller group of cities that offer both opportunity and predictability. In this new landscape, the most sophisticated families are diversifying across multiple hubs, often maintaining strategic footholds in London, New York, Dubai and Singapore to balance opportunity, security and access.”

Rory Penn, chair of the Private Office at Knight Frank, added: “What we are seeing on the ground is that wealth creation is rising against a more complex global economic backdrop. The ultra-wealthy are becoming markedly more mobile, yet the list of markets where they feel genuinely comfortable investing or basing their families has narrowed.”

Courtesy: Knight Frank

For further information, please contact:

Astrid Recaldin, head of global wealth & international PR at Knight Frank: [email protected]

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy, serving as our clients’ partners in property for 128 years. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank has more than 20,000 people operating from 600 offices across 50 territories. The Group advises clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. For further information about the Firm, please visit knightfrank.com.