The Wealth X’s Billionaire Census 2019 report indicates that between 2017 and 2018, the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) with assets of at least $30 million decreased to 2,604, down from 2,754 the previous year.

In addition to the decline in numbers, the total wealth of this group also fell by 7%, amounting to approximately $8.6 trillion, due to trade tensions, market volatility, and slowing economic growth in 2018.

Mapping the world's wealthiest reveals that about three-quarters of them are concentrated in 15 economic regions, ranked as follows: 1. United States 2. China 3. Germany 4. Russia 5. United Kingdom 6. Switzerland 7. Hong Kong 8. India 9. Saudi Arabia 10. France 11. United Arab Emirates 12. Brazil 13. Italy 14. Canada 15. Singapore.

These 15 economic regions account for a total of 1,942 UHNWI, with a combined wealth of $6.8 trillion.

The United States has the highest number of billionaires in the world, and it is one of the few countries where this number has increased, now totaling 705, up from 680, representing a 4% increase and 27% of the global total.

Meanwhile, the overall wealth of American billionaires decreased by 5.4%, which is less than the global average decline of 7%. The total wealth of American billionaires is approximately $3.01 trillion.

Interestingly, the total wealth of American billionaires exceeds that of the next eight economic regions combined.

While the total wealth of American billionaires stands at $3.01 trillion, the combined wealth of billionaires in China, Germany, Russia, the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia is only about $2.9 trillion.

As for China, it ranked second last year, trailing the U.S. with 285 billionaires, a decrease of 16% from 338 the previous year, while the total wealth of Chinese billionaires is $996 billion, down 8%.

Among the 15 economic regions, Russia is the only country where the wealth of UHNWI increased by 1.1%, moving up two spots from the previous year, primarily due to rising commodity prices and moderate economic recovery.

The 15 economic regions that encompass the largest number of billionaires in the world are as follows:

Thanks to information from thaipublica.org