The World Distribution of Household Wealth concludes that the richest 2% of adults in the world own more than half of global household wealth.

This is the first study of its kind to cover all countries in the world.

Wealth in the study is defined as net worth: the value of physical and financial assets less debts.

According to the study, North America has 6% of the world adult population and 34% of household wealth.

Of the richest 1% of individuals in the world, 37% reside in the USA and 27% in Japan.

The World Institute for Development Economics was established in 1985.

UNU-WIDER
http://www.wider.unu.edu