Global billionaire population reaches a record 2,325 with the addition of 155 new billionaires in 2014

SINGAPORE and ZURICH, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, released today, shows that 155 new billionaires were minted this year, pushing the global population to a record 2,325 – a 7% rise from 2013.

The combined wealth of the world's billionaires increased by 12% to US$7.3 trillion, which is higher than the combined market capitalisation of all the companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014 – the only comprehensive, global study on the composition and dynamics of this top tier of the global ultra high net worth (UHNW) population – shows that Europe, with 775 billionaires, is the region with the most billionaires and billionaire wealth (US$2.37 trillion). North America – the region with the most billionaire wealth in 2013 – was overtaken by Europe in terms of billionaire wealth in this year's census.

Asia, however, boasted the largest billionaire wealth increase, with the region's billionaires' fortunes growing by 18.7% over the past year. The region is responsible for 30% of the net increase in global billionaire wealth in 2014. Asia's billionaire population grew by 10% in 2014, with 52 new entrants into the billionaire club – 33 are from China.

The United States maintains its position as the world's top billionaire country with a population of 571 billionaires in 2014, followed by China (190) and the United Kingdom (130), which took the third spot from Germany (123) on the Top 40 Billionaire Countries/Territories list.

Below are other key findings from the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014:

• Europe is home to more than a third of the world's billionaire population.
• Latin America and the Caribbean is the region that saw the most significant growth in terms of the size of its billionaire population (37.8%) in 2014, but Asia saw the fastest growth in billionaire wealth (18.7%).
• The billionaire population in the Middle East shrank by 1.9%, but total billionaire wealth in the region rose by 16.7%.
• The size of Africa's billionaire population decreased by 4.8%, but the region's billionaire wealth increased by 12.9%.
• There was no change in the billionaire population in the Pacific (34 billionaires), but the region's total billionaire wealth dropped by 2%.
• Nearly 35% of the world's billionaires are concentrated in 20 cities. Billionaires are transnational. They move from city to city, rather than from country to country.
• Only 5% of the world's billionaires are worth more than US$10 billion.
• The average billionaire's wealth rose by 4.4% this year to just over US$3.1 billion.
• The average age of the typical billionaire is 63, one year older than it was in 2013.
• There are 2,039 male billionaires in 2014, accounting for 87.7% of the world's total billionaire wealth of US$7.3 trillion.
• There are 286 female billionaires in 2014, accounting for a 12.3% share of global billionaire wealth.

The census – which looks at the global billionaire population from July 2013 to June 2014 – examines this top-tier wealth segment by geographical location, gender, sources of wealth and personal traits.

"Wealth-X is pleased to partner with UBS for a second consecutive year to produce the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census," Wealth-X CEO Mykolas Rambus said. "Expert commentary from UBS complements Wealth-X's global intelligence on the world's billionaire population, producing a report that demonstrates a true collaboration between the global leader in wealth management and the world's leading UHNW intelligence provider."

"UBS has served some of the world's most successful families for more than 150 years and, today, more than half of the world's billionaires are clients.

"The second Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census is the most comprehensive study of its kind and provides unparalleled insights into this sophisticated and global client segment. Its findings, for example, that billionaires increased their liquid holdings last year and that entrepreneurialism is key to their wealth, correspond with the feedback from discussions with our clients," said Simon Smiles, CIO for UHNW, UBS Wealth Management. 

Download the report at www.billionairecensus.com

About Wealth-X
Wealth-X is the definitive source of intelligence on the ultra wealthy with the world's largest collection of curated research on ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals, defined as those with assets of US$30 million and above. The firm's Wealth-X Professional solution is the standard for banking, luxury marketing and not-for-profit professionals working with the ultra affluent. Headquartered in Singapore, Wealth-X has 13 offices across five continents. (www.wealthx.com)

About UBS
UBS draws on its 150-year heritage to serve private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Its business strategy is centered on its pre-eminent global wealth management businesses and its leading universal bank in Switzerland, complemented by its Global Asset Management business and its Investment Bank, with a focus on capital efficiency and businesses that offer a superior structural growth and profitability outlook.

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SOURCE Wealth-X