Israel Adds Thousands of New Millionaires but Drops to 18th in Average Adult Wealth Ranking

The 2026 UBS Global Wealth Report, released on June 30 in Zurich, reveals that global personal wealth surged by 10.8% in 2025, the fastest growth since 2017, driven by strong financial markets and rising non-financial assets. Israel saw a mixed trend with 8,803 new millionaires added in 2025, bringing the total to approximately 195,000 millionaires, a 4.7% increase from the previous year. Millionaires now represent 3.2% of Israel's adult population, and about 42% of adults hold assets valued over $100,000.

Despite this growth, Israel's average wealth per adult declined slightly in the global ranking, moving from 17th to 18th place with an average wealth of $312,108 in 2025. Conversely, Israel improved from 25th to 24th place in median wealth per adult, which rose to $83,843. Since 2020, Israel's average adult wealth has grown by over 15%. The country's wealth composition is notable for its high concentration of financial assets, which make up 82.1% of adult wealth, the second highest globally after Sweden. Debt accounts for 14% of adult wealth in Israel.

Globally, the number of millionaires increased by 1.5% in 2025, adding nearly one million new millionaires worldwide, with over half residing in the United States. Switzerland retained its position as the country with the highest average adult wealth at $910,382, followed by the US at $696,277 and Luxembourg at $654,732. The strongest wealth growth occurred in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (17.5%), with the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions growing by 8.5% and 5.9%, respectively. This disparity partly reflects the weakening US dollar, which boosted wealth growth outside the US.

The report also highlights a significant reduction in the proportion of adults with wealth below $10,000, dropping from 75% in 2000 to 41% in 2025, alongside expansion in middle and high wealth segments. The fastest growth was among those with over $5 million, especially in China, Australia, and the US.

UBS Global Wealth Management co-presidents Iqbal Khan and Robert Kropfsky emphasized the rapid pace of wealth growth influenced by economic shifts, technological advances, and new opportunities, underscoring the importance of disciplined wealth management. Nobel laureate and economic historian Prof. Yoel Mokyr noted that human capital and STEM skills are critical for long-term prosperity, with emerging technologies like nuclear fusion and mRNA expected to impact economies as much as artificial intelligence.