What country has the most money?

Luxembourg, whose financial sector makes up 25% of its GDP, is the world's richest country by GDP per capita. With a population of just 660,000, the country is also considered a tax haven, incentivizing foreign investment due to its favorable tax policies.

Why is Switzerland so rich?

Industrialization and innovation Switzerland is renowned for having a strong and varied export market. Pharmaceuticals, gems, chemicals, and machinery are the main contributors. Another key factor is Switzerland's focus on its own industries.

What is the fastest growing country in the world?

This year, excluding one-off rebounds from previous double-digit downturns (Macao or Maldives welcoming back tourists after Covid, for example), Guyana is set to maintain its status as the world's fastest-expanding economy for the fifth year in a row, with a GDP growth rate of almost 34%.

Is there a country richer than the US?

But sorting nations for their per-capita average wealth—or even for their median per-capita wealth—other countries win out. Using the first metric, Switzerland is the richest country in the world at an average per-capita wealth of around $685,000, followed by Luxembourg and the United States .

Why is Luxembourg so rich?

First, the country has a thriving financial services sector and serves as a global hub for private banking . Secondly, Luxembourg has a stable political environment, which attracts businesses and investors and fosters economic growth.

What is the richest county in America?

Loudoun County located in Virginia, is the richest county in the US with a population of 435,735. The county is known for its tertiary services, booming wine sector, huge wheat-growing land,second-largest, and is the hub of several high-tech and IT businesses.

What is the wealthiest country in North America?

The United States is the largest economy in North America, comprising about 80% of the continent's gross domestic product (PPP).

Which is the best country for living?

The top three overall, Norway, Australia and the Netherlands offer high living standards, strong economies, an excellent work-life balance, robust social security systems and inclusive, diverse work environments. All are in the top three happiest countries globally, but each also scored high in other areas.

Which country has the richest average citizens?

In 2022, global average wealth per adult stood at $84,718. By these measures, Switzerland ranks at the top at $685,226 per person. Over 15% of the population are millionaires, the third-highest rate in the world.

What are the top 3 richest countries?

Luxembourg, Bermuda, and Ireland rank highest in GDP per capita, indicating significant national wealth.

Which country is no. 1 in the world in 2024?

Top 10 GDP Countries 2024: With a GDP of more than 20 trillion dollars, the United States of America is the world's largest economy.

Where the World's Richest Countries Invest (2024)

Where the World's Richest Countries Invest

ByKimberly Amadeo

Updated on April 27, 2022

Reviewed by

Robert C. Kelly

Reviewed byRobert C. Kelly

Robert Kelly is managing director of XTS Energy LLC, and has more than three decades of experience as a business executive. He is a professor of economics and has raised more than $4.5 billion in investment capital.

learn about our financial review board

Where the World's Richest Countries Invest (2)

A sovereign wealth fund is an investment pool of foreign currencyreserves owned by a government. The largest investment pools are owned by countries that have a trade surplus, such as China and oil-exporting countries. They take in foreign currencies, primarily U.S. dollars,in exchange for their exports. Thefunds are then invested to produce the highestreturn possible.

Sovereign Wealth Funds vs. Central Banks

Before getting into more detail about sovereign wealth funds, it's important to distinguish between sovereign wealth funds and similar—but different—financial entities. Similar funds held by nations'central banksare not sovereign wealth funds because they have different goals. A central bankholds funds to manage the value of its currency, to stimulate the economy, or to prevent inflation. A sovereign wealth fund just wants to earn a high return.

Here are some other funds that may be confused with sovereign wealth funds:

Funds held by state-owned companies
Government employee pension funds
Private wealth funds

How Sovereign Wealth Funds Affect the U.S. Economy

The amount of money held by the largest sovereign wealth funds has more than doubled since September 2007, from $3.265 trillion to$9.1 trillion in 2021. Their asset holdings are now double that of allhedge fundscombined.

These funds are big enough to affect overall markets. For example, they took large stakes in Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch during the financial crisis. They contributed toasset bubblesin London and New York real estate. These funds have increasing influence as investors become more sophisticated.

Sovereign Wealth Fund Ranking

Norway's Government Pension Fund is the largest, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.As of August 2021, it held nearly $1.1 trillion.Its profits are from the state-owned North Sea oil-drilling operation, making it susceptible to drops in oil prices.

Note

High oil pricesspurred the growth of large wealth funds between 2007 and 2014. During that time, nearly 60%of their assets were from oil and gas revenues. The2008 financial crisisbarely slowed their growth.

Middle Eastern Funds

Middle Eastern economies also rely heavily on oil exports. They make up about a third of the total wealth insovereign funds.

Top 10 Middle Eastern Funds (in billions)	Country	2021
Norway Government Pension Fund Global	Norway	$1,364
China Investment Corp.	China	$1,222
Kuwait Investment Authority	Kuwait	$693
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority	UAE	$649
Hong Kong Monetary Authority	Hong Kong	$580
GIC	Singapore	$545
Temasek Holdings	Singapore	$484
National Council for Social Security	China	$447
Public Investment Fund	Saudi Arabia	$430
Investment Corp. of Dubai	UAE	$422

Chinese Funds

China benefits from a massive export economy that collects largeholdings of foreign currencythat need to be invested. Export-funded sovereign wealth funds occur in several countries, but the best example may be inChina, where there are five sovereign wealth funds. Combined, these funds invest trillions of dollars. China's central bank manages the rest of the government's funds to regulate its currency. State-run corporations and banks invest in these wealth funds as well.Each fund hasseparate goals.

China Investment Corp: This fund boasts just over $1.2 trillion in assets. As of 2021, roughly 42.5% of this fund's portfolio was made up of "alternative assets" including real estate, infrastructure, and hedge fund investments
SAFE Investment Company: This fund, with roughly $417 billion in assets under management, incorporates three investment entities based overseas. They include the Investment Company of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore, Gingko Tree in the UK, and Beryl Datura in the British Virgin Islands.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority: With more than $580 billion in assets, this fund invests in the Hang Seng stock market and supports the financial stability of Hong Kong
China's National Social Security Fund: This fund currently manages $447 billion in assets. It manages funds recovered from state-owned businesses and other government investment proceeds. It invests mostly in China.
China-Africa Development Fund: This fund manages $5 billion worth of assets, all of which are intended to "promote the development of Sino-African commercial ties."

Singapore

The city-state of Singapore has two wealth funds, holdingmore than $800billion in total. The funds come from the high savings and investment rates of the people and businesses in this world-class financial center.

The largest is the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, now theGIC Private Limitedfund. It holds $545 billion. It'sowned and funded by the government. It’s subdivided into three smaller enterprises:

GIC Asset Management: It invests in equities, bonds, foreign exchange, and alternative investments.
GIC Real Estate: This fund holds properties around the world, as well as investments inREITs.
GIC Special Investments Private Limited: This isone of the world's largestprivate equity firms. It invests in leveraged buyouts, venturecapital, and infrastructure.

Singapore's other wealth fund isTemasek. It invests $484 billionthrough 120 subsidiaries. It focuses on investments inAsia and energy-related investments. It purchases stocks instead of direct investments.Temasek opened a New York-based office in 2013.Analysts expectedthat the new Temasek office would come with a change its strategy—from owning small stakes in blue-chip, publicly-listed companies, to major direct investments.

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