Kolkata: Close to 89 individuals have become ultra-high-net-worth individuals every day in the past five years in the world, a report has stated. According to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2026, the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals rose from 551,435 in 2021 to 713,626 in 2026. It means an addition of 162,000 ultra-rich individuals in just five years. Though India’s share is rather small in the global canvas, the direction of movement in upward. Indians account for 2.8% of the ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the world now. The number stood at 19,877 in 2026, up from just over 12,000 in 2021, which amounts to 63% increase in five years.
The dominance of the US
The largest number of ultra rich in the world are still US citizens. The largest economy in the world accounts for 41% of all newly created ultra-high-net-worth individuals globally. The US’s share the global league surged from 33% in 2021 to 35% in 2026. By 2031, it is expected to rise to 41%. China is the second origin of the global ultra-high-net-worth individuals. But its share is slowly declining and it stood at 17% in 2026 as opposed to 18% in 2021.
New ultra rich hubs
Though a few countries dominate the global ultra-high-net-worth scenario, new economies are emerging as wealth generation hubs. According to the Knight Frank report, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Poland and Vietnam can become new cradles of ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The report thinks Indonesia will rise 82%, Saudi Arabia will rise 63%, Poland 63% and Vietnam 59%.
The rise of new ultra rich hub is being fueled by rapid economic expansion. Economies such as Indonesia and Vietnam are witnessing strong GDP growth apart from particularly robust manufacturing sectors. As industries scale up, new wealthy classes are emerging. Saudi Arabia is benefitting from galloping energy revenues and new revenue streams from sectors such as infrastructure, tourism and technology. Even poorer European countries such as Poland and Romania are getting tailwinds due to economic linkages with Western Europe, rising foreign investment and financial services and the private sector.
Growth in the next 5 years
A few countries which are not in the top league right now are going to account for a large number of new ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The report says Saudi Arabia is likely to register 183% billionaire growth. The next position will go to Poland with 123% rise. In third position will be Sweden with 81% and Australia with 77%.