wealth

Luxembourg's nominal GDP per capita of $127,674 made it the wealthiest sovereign nation on Earth in 2024 by IMF estimates — about 20% higher than Ireland in second place. The top of this list is dominated by small, open economies with outsized financial sectors, tech hubs, or energy wealth rather than large industrial powers.

The United States holds 8,133 tonnes of gold — more than double Germany in second place. The US has maintained the world's largest official gold reserve since the end of World War II, when Allied nations deposited their gold in American vaults for safekeeping. Together, the US and Europe hold over 60% of all reported sovereign gold reserves.

Russia has the world's largest natural resource wealth at $75 trillion. The US is second. Saudi Arabia's oil makes it 3rd. But the 'resource curse' means the richest resource nations often have the poorest citizens. Here's the complete natural resource ranking and why abundance can be a trap.

Monaco has more billionaires per capita than any country — 1 per 1,000 residents. Switzerland ranks second among large nations. The US has more billionaires in total (735+) but smaller nations lead per capita. Here's the full ranking of where the world's ultra-wealthy concentrate.

The United States leads the world with 813 billionaires, but China's rapid rise to second place with 473 signals a profound shift in global wealth creation. Here's the definitive 2025 ranking of billionaire nations.

Luxembourg and Switzerland have the densest millionaire populations among 56 markets UBS tracks, while the United States has the most millionaires by count. Here is what the numbers measure, and what they miss.