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Global Population of High Net Worth Individuals and their Wealth Hit New Highs

17 Jun 2015

Toronto, Paris – Strong economic and equity market performance helped create nearly a million (920,000) new millionaires globally in 2014, as High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs [1]) grew in both number and wealth to 14.6 million and US$56.4 trillion, respectively. This reflects an increase of about seven percent, roughly half the growth rate of the previous year, according to the World Wealth Report 2015 (WWR) released today by Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management. The report found that while the vast majority of the HNWI population and wealth is relatively evenly distributed between North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, the Asia-Pacific region grew at the fastest rate and is now home to more HNWIs than any other region.

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While North America continues to rank first overall for HNWI wealth at US$16.2 trillion vs. Asia-Pacific’s US$15.8 trillion and Europe’s US$13.0 trillion, Asia-Pacific’s wealth growth (11 percent vs. North America’s nine percent and Europe’s 4.6 per cent) is expected to continue. In fact, Asia-Pacific is expected to take top spot for HNWI wealth before the end of 2015.   Asia-Pacific also expanded its HNWI population at the fastest rate globally (nine percent), pushing it past North America as the region with the most HNWIs at 4.69 million. North America’s HNWIs grew to 4.68 million (eight percent growth) and Europe’s grew to 4.0 million (up four percent).

“2014 was the sixth consecutive year of growth for the High Net Worth market, with robust equity returns and economic performance enabling wealth to grow by about seven percent, following double digit growth the year prior,” said George Lewis, Group Head, RBC Wealth Management & RBC Insurance. “Asia-Pacific led the growth in wealth this year and just edged out North America as the new leader in High Net Worth population. Looking ahead to the next few years, we expect Europe to be a large driver of HNWI wealth as the region recovers economically.” From a country-level perspective, China and the U.S. drove more than half (52 percent) of global HNWI population growth. India led the world in growth for both HNWI population (26 percent) and wealth (28 percent) due to strong equity market performance and the reduced cost of its substantial oil imports. China followed, with population and wealth growth rates of 17 percent and 19 percent, respectively, driven by GDP growth, increased exports and moderate equity market performance.   Strong growth in Asia-Pacific and North America contrasted with negative growth in Latin America – the only region with a decline in HNWI population (-2 percent) and wealth (-0.5 percent) in 2014, largely due to falling commodity prices and a resulting decline in equity markets.  In Europe HNWI population and wealth grew by roughly four percent due to weak economic performance and falling equity markets in most countries.

About Capgemini

With more than 145,000 people in over 40 countries, Capgemini is one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. The Group reported 2014 global revenues of EUR 10.573 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business and technology solutions that fit their needs and drive the results they want. A deeply multicultural organization, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM, and draws on Rightshore®, its worldwide delivery model.

Capgemini’s Global Financial Services Business Unit brings deep industry experience, innovative service offerings and next generation global delivery to serve the financial services industry. With a network of 24,000 professionals serving over 900 clients worldwide Capgemini collaborates with leading banks, insurers and capital market companies to deliver business and IT solutions and thought leadership which create tangible value. Learn more about us at www.capgemini.com and www.capgemini.com/financialservices.   Connect with our wealth management experts in the Financial Services section of Capgemini Expert Connect at http://www.capgemini.com/experts/financial-services   The World Wealth Report 2015 and other Capgemini thought leadership is available for your iPad through Capgemini’s Financial Services Insights app. Download it through iTunes here.

[1] HNWIs are defined as those having investable assets of US$1 million or more, excluding primary residence, collectibles, consumables, and consumer durables.

[2] The Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management Global HNW Insights Survey 2015 is the largest and most in-depth survey of high net worth individuals ever conducted, surveying more than 5,000 HNWIs across 23 major wealth markets in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa and was conducted in January and February 2015.

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