In charts: What the global wealth report tells us where Australia sits

A growing number of Australians are achieving a seven-figure net worth, according to a recent global wealth report from UBS. This surge is primarily attributed to the nation's robust property market, with Australian households collectively owning $12.3 trillion in residential land and dwellings. The 2026 UBS Global Wealth Report reveals that approximately 25,000 more Australians crossed the $US1 million ($1.45 million) net asset threshold last year, bringing the total to 1.6 million individuals.

Globally, total personal wealth increased by 10.8% in 2025. While North America and Greater China account for over half of the world's millionaires, the US alone added more than 440,000 millionaires in 2025. Despite this headline growth, median wealth, a better indicator of typical households, declined in most countries studied. Property remains the primary driver of wealth in Australia, with average house prices exceeding $1.1 million during the March quarter.

Australia holds a strong position globally in terms of wealth. It ranks third highest in median wealth at $US210,783 ($306,074), surpassed only by Luxembourg and Belgium. The nation also ranks fifth based on average wealth per adult, reaching $US616,306 ($894,182). However, the report clarifies that the majority of this wealth is held in non-financial assets, such as property, rather than readily accessible cash.

Furthermore, the UBS report highlights a narrowing wealth inequality within Australia. The nation's Gini coefficient, a measure of wealth distribution, fell to 0.53, indicating an improvement in how evenly wealth is shared. This places Australia among the more equal countries in the UBS sample, with only Slovakia, Belgium, and Qatar exhibiting more equitable wealth distribution. In contrast, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil showed the highest levels of inequality.