Africa: Global private wealth stood at $5,808 billion at the end of 2021, up 7.7% year-on-year or +$417 billion

Global private wealth in Africa stood at 5808 billion dollars at the end of 2021, up 7.7% year on year (+417 billion dollars), according to the 2022 edition of the “Global Wealth Report” published on September 20 by the Credit Suisse banking group.

This growth was mainly driven by an 11.9% increase in household financial assets on the continent (+306 billion dollars) while the increase in non-financial assets (mainly real estate) was limited to 3, 7% ($121 billion).

On the other hand, the average wealth per adult on the continent reached 8419 dollars at the end of the past year, up 4.7% compared to the previous year.

The 13th edition of the annual Global Wealth Report also revealed that global wealth stood at $463.6 trillion at the end of 2021, up 9.8% from 2020 at the current exchange rate. , and well above the annual average of +6.6% recorded since the beginning of the 21st century.

Excluding exchange rate variations, the increase in global wealth reached 12.7%, “the highest annual growth rate ever recorded”.

All regions of the world have seen an improvement in the wealth of their inhabitants, but North America and China have particularly stood out. The first region is responsible for half of the increase and China for a quarter. Africa, Europe, India and Latin America together accounted for only 11.1% of growth.

“This figure reflects a general depreciation of currencies against the US dollar in these regions,” said Credit Suisse, noting that the increase in global private wealth was mainly due to positive developments in stock markets and support measures. of the economy put in place by central banks.

Wealth per adult at the global level, for its part, increased by 8.4% in 2021, to 87,489 dollars, and by 11.3% excluding the exchange rate effect.

The report further highlights that the wealth share of the world’s top 1% increased for the second consecutive year to 45.6% in 2021 from 43.9% in 2019. The dollar millionaires club hosted 5 .2 million additional members (+9%), bringing their number to 62.5 million people worldwide.

As for the very wealthy or ultra high-net-worth individual (UHNWI/people with a fortune of more than 50 million dollars), their number jumped by 21%.

Credit Suisse also anticipates a “likely reversal of exceptional wealth gains recorded last year in 2022 and 2023, as several countries face slowing growth or even recession”.

“Global inflation and the war in Ukraine could weigh on real wealth creation over the next few years,” the report says, however, estimating that global dollar wealth is expected to grow by 36% or $169 trillion. by 2026, thanks in particular to the dynamics of low- and middle-income countries. They currently account for 24% of wealth, but they will drive 42% of wealth growth over the next five years.

Assets per adult are expected to grow by 28% by 2026 and cross the $100,000 threshold in 2026. The number of millionaires is expected to increase to 87 million and the number of ultra-high net worth individuals to reach 385,000.