Wealth Migration Report Finds Top Destinations for the Rich

Henley & Partners has released its 2026 Private Wealth Migration Report, using a new Global Wealth Mobility Framework to measure countries’ ability to attract, keep, and support wealth based on taxes, geopolitical stability, and quality of life. The report says the most attractive countries for wealthy individuals this year are Singapore, with a competitiveness score of 79.5, New Zealand at 75.8, followed by Italy, Switzerland, Greece, and Hong Kong.

At the other end, major economies including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway, and South Korea are described as “competitive countries under pressure” because tax reforms and fiscal uncertainty are pushing affluent families to look elsewhere. Douglas McWilliams, founder of the UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research, said, “Wealth migration is the canary in the coal mine of economic policy.” He added, “If rich people leave a country in large numbers, you can be pretty sure that the economic policy of that country is not working properly.”

Daniel Shmailin, head of Henley & Partners’ Israel office, said wealthy residents were long seen as relatively fixed national assets, but “that assumption is becoming less and less true.” He said countries now compete not only for capital, but also for entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners who drive growth and innovation.

The report highlights the United States as a paradox. Despite being the world’s biggest wealth-creation engine, it scores only 62.3 and is Henley & Partners’ largest source market for alternative citizenship applications. U.S. applications doubled last year and continue to rise in 2026, with 93% driven by Americans seeking greater international diversification, mainly in Europe. The United Arab Emirates shows a similar tension, scoring 85.3 while regional Gulf conflict is testing wealth hubs. Henley & Partners recorded a 41% increase in inquiries from UAE residents and a 29% rise in applications for alternative residence or citizenship.

The biggest 2026 trend is the building of a “sovereign portfolio,” meaning the rich are increasingly holding residency rights, citizenships, and investments in multiple countries rather than relocating in the traditional sense. In the first five months of the year, the firm received applications from 86 nationalities, and more than 28% of applicants already live outside their original country of citizenship.