Ranked: Where Are Ultra-Rich Populations Forecast to Grow the Fastest?

Published

October 1, 2026 8:40 am

By

Jenna Ross

The following content is sponsored by Plasma

Add as preferred on Google

Save to Inbox

×

Save to Inbox

Sign me up for the free Visual Capitalist daily newsletter.

Send

Top-Level Wealth: Ultra-Rich Populations Forecast to Rise Fastest

Key Takeaways

• Indonesia is forecast to have the highest growth in its ultra-rich population, with projected growth of 82% from 2026–2031.
• Saudi Arabia and Poland tie for second place, with projected growth of 63%.
• In comparison, the United States is set for a growth rate of 54%.

The next wave of global wealth is being led by rapidly maturing markets. Through 2031, countries like Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are projected to see their ultra-rich populations grow faster than America.

This graphic, created in partnership with Plasma, shows the countries with the highest forecasted growth rates over the next five years.

Ranking Countries by Projected Wealthy Population Growth

Knight Frank predicts that Indonesia will have the fastest growth in its population of people worth $30 million or more.

The country benefits from having a population of over 280 million people, meaning it has one of the world’s largest domestic markets. On top of this, industries ranging from commodities to digital finance are creating wealth as businesses grow and ownership stakes rise in value.

RankCountryProjected Ultra-Rich Population Growth, 2026–2031

1 Indonesia81.7%

2 Saudi Arabia63.2%

3 Poland62.6%

4 Vietnam59.0%

5 Australia58.5%

6 Sweden55.3%

7 United States54.1%

8 Romania49.5%

9 Philippines48.9%

10 Singapore46.4%

Source: Knight Frank. Only includes countries with more than 500 ultra-high-net-worth individuals in 2026.

Saudi Arabia and Poland follow closely behind, with projected growth in their ultra-rich populations of about 63%. Both countries also dominate billionaire growth forecasts.

In Saudi Arabia, widespread incentives across taxes, imports, infrastructure, and funding create a pro-business environment. Meanwhile, Poland has one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU and is home to tech unicorns like InPost and Allegro.

It’s worth noting that Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Poland are all starting from relatively low numbers of ultra-rich people. This makes it easier to achieve higher forecasted growth rates.

Southeast Asia Emerges as a Wealth Hotspot

Looking regionally, Southeast Asia stands out. Four of the 10 countries with the fastest-growing ultra-rich populations are in the region: Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Together, the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals across those four countries plus Thailand is projected to rise from over 14,000 in 2026 to more than 22,000 by 2031. That’s equivalent to more than four people joining the $30 million club every day.

With new centers of wealth emerging around the world, managing and spending money across borders is becoming increasingly relevant to a growing class of wealthy consumers.

You earn in one currency and live in several. Explore Plasma One Platinum for 0% FX on every purchase abroad and up to 4% cashback at home.

You may also like

• Cryptocurrency3 months ago Gold and U.S. Debt: Will Tether Be a Mega-Holder by 2030? By 2030, Tether’s gold and U.S. debt holdings could rival what major countries currently own. See how the projections break down.
• Housing4 months ago The States Where Housing Prices Have Surged the Most (2021–2026) Maine and Vermont lead the nation in home price growth. Explore the latest data shaping the U.S. housing market.
• Inflation4 months ago How Much Value $100 Loses in the World’s Highest-Inflation Countries in 2026 In Venezuela, $100 could be worth just $31 by year-end. See where inflation is eroding money’s value fastest in 2026.
• Personal Finance7 months ago Where $2.6T in Daily Cross-Border Currency Trades Happen Foreign exchange markets are the backbone of global trade and finance. Where do the $2.6 trillion in daily cross-border currency trades originate?
• Personal Finance11 months ago Inflation Watch: Countries Losing the Most Purchasing Power in 2025 When prices rise, money’s value melts away. See how inflation could shrink the value of $100 by the end of 2025 in the hardest-hit countries.
• Technology11 months ago Unbanked in a Connected World: Account Ownership vs Phone Ownership In many unbanked countries, fewer than one in three adults have a financial account, but most own a mobile phone.
• Technology1 year ago Ranked: The Biggest Buyers of U.S. Debt Stablecoin Week: See how stablecoin issuers stack up against countries like Japan and Singapore as major buyers of U.S. debt.
• Technology1 year ago Mapped: Stablecoin Regulation Globally Which countries have stablecoin regulation proposed or in place, and which have no tailored laws? Find out in this Stablecoin Week piece.
• Technology1 year ago Stablecoin Evolution: Milestones of the New Payment Rail The GENIUS Act marks a turning point for stablecoin. Explore 8 key milestones in the digital dollar’s rise to mainstream finance.
• Technology1 year ago Is the U.S. Dollar Primed for a Digital Rebound? U.S. dollar influence is shrinking in some spaces, but stablecoins could give the currency a new chapter of global dominance.
• Money1 year ago Ranked: The Biggest Currency Drops So Far in 2025 In the first half of 2025, one currency dropped over 50% against the U.S. dollar. What led to the decline?
• Technology1 year ago Ranked: Countries With the Highest Remittance Costs To send money across borders, workers can be charged high remittance fees—over 50% of the amount transferred in some cases.

Subscribe

Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/pla02-top-level-wealth-ultra-rich-populations-set-to-grow-fastest/