Africa Emerges as the Fastest-Growing Region for Wealth
Africa has now established itself as the region where wealth is growing the most rapidly. By 2025, the number of individuals holding at least $30 million in wealth surged by 23.7%, reaching 3,440 ultra-high-net-worth individuals, representing the highest growth recorded among all regions worldwide, according to the World Ultra Wealth Report 2026 published by Altrata.
Strong Growth in African Fortunes
This trend has also led to a significant increase in fortunes. The cumulative wealth of African ultra-high-net-worth individuals grew by 22.4% in one year, reaching $400 billion by the end of 2025. This performance far exceeds those observed in North America (+15%), Europe (+14.5%), or Asia (+15.8%). According to Altrata, several factors explain this acceleration, including:
- Lower financing costs
- Appreciation of several African currencies against the dollar
- Ongoing digital transformation on the continent
- Influx of investments in strategic minerals
Limited but Growing Global Presence
However, Africa's share of global wealth remains limited. The continent accounts for only 0.6% of the global ultra-high-net-worth population and 0.7% of their total wealth, despite this record growth. Globally, individuals with more than $30 million in wealth now number 556,850, with a cumulative fortune of $63,800 billion, an unprecedented level.
Future Prospects
The report estimates that this trend is far from over. By 2030, Africa is expected to have around 5,200 ultra-high-net-worth individuals, representing an average annual growth rate of 8.4%, the highest in the world. The development of infrastructure, the growth of consumer markets, sustained demand for critical raw materials, and continued digitalization are expected to continue fueling this expansion.
Global Wealth Landscape
On a global scale, the United States remains by far the largest wealth hub, with 206,880 ultra-high-net-worth individuals, followed by China (55,490), Germany (28,330), Japan (22,435), and the United Kingdom (20,495). Altrata forecasts that the global ultra-high-net-worth population will reach 746,570 people by 2030, while their cumulative wealth is expected to rise to $85,000 billion.
