Where the World's Wealthiest 1% Live

In the last few years we’ve heard the phrase more and more: ‘the 1%’, the people who are the wealthiest in the world. Credit Suisse says that there are about 47 million adults that make up the 1% and that each of them is worth at least $788,000. But where do they live? These are the top 10 countries that have the most members of the prestigious 1% club. We’ve also included the richest person in each country.

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10. Switzerland

Switzerland has 800,000 members of the 1 per cent. With about one in ten Swiss citizens as members of this elite group, the country has the highest proportion of ultra-wealthy people.

Switzerland's also been ranked one of the top 20 best places for Canadians to retire.

Switzerland's richest person is Ernesto Bertarelli

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10. Switzerland

The richest person in Switzerland is Ernesto Bertarelli, whose $8.7 billion fortune has secured him 149th spot on the Forbes Rich List.

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9. China

Even though China has 1.6 million members of the 1 per cent, the country also has a population of 1.357 billion people, according to World Bank statistics. For every Chinese member of the 1 per cent, there are almost 850 people who aren’t.

Along with China, see more of the top 20 countries with the most billionaires.

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9. China

China’s richest person and the 29th richest in the world, according to Forbes, is real-estate tycoon Wang Jianlin, who is worth $24.9 billion.

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8. Canada

Like China, Canada has 1.6 million members of the 1 per cent. However, Canada’s population is about 35.675 million, so one in 22 Canadians is a member of the 1 per cent.

Want to join the ranks? Check out the highest-paying in-demand jobs in Canada for 2017 and the highest-paying in-demand jobs in Canada for 2018.

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8. Canada

Media mogul David Thomson is the wealthiest Canadian, with $25.4 billion and a ranking of 26th on the Forbes Rich List.

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7. Australia

Credit Suisse estimates that Australia has 1.8 million members of the 1 per cent. Down Under’s population is an estimated 23.748 million, which means about one in 14 Aussies is a member of the 1 per cent.

Planning a trip Down Under? Don't miss the 20 most important things to see in Australia.

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7. Australia

The richest person in Australia is Gina Rinehart, who made her $12.4 billion through mining. She’s in 91st place on the Forbes Rich List.

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6. Italy

Italy has 2.3 million members of the 1 per cent, according to Credit Suisse. That’s about one in every 26 Italians.

Want more? Read on for the most popular souvenirs from around the world.

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6. Italy

Forbes lists Leonardo Del Vecchio, head of the largest eyewear company in the world, as the richest Italian, with $20.9 billion to his name. He is number 37 on the Forbes Rich List.

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5. Germany

Germany has 2.8 million members of the 1 per cent. For every 29 Germans, there is one who is among the world’s richest people.

You may also be interested in the countries with higher (and lower) wages than Canada.

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5. Germany

The wealthiest German according to Forbes is Georg Schaeffler of Schaeffler AG, a bearing and industrial machinery manufacturing company. He’s ranked 21st in the world and is worth $27.4 billion.

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4. UK

Credit Suisse estimates that the UK is home to 2.9 million members of the 1 per cent. With an estimated population of 64.1 million, that means one in every 22 Britons would fall into the 1 per cent category.

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4. UK

With $14.5 billion to their names, the Indian-born Hinduja brothers are the UK’s wealthiest people. They rank 67th on the Forbes Rich List.

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3. France

France has 3.5 million members of the 1 per cent. That's one in every 19 French people.

France is also a popular pick for celebrity destination weddings. Look through all the famous couples who got married in France.

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3. France

France’s richest, according to Forbes, are L’Oreal’s Liliane Bettencourt and her family, with a $40.2 billion fortune that makes them the ninth richest in the world.

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2. Japan

According to Credit Suisse’s research, Japan has 4 million members of the 1 per cent. The country’s large population means that for every Japanese member of the 1 per cent, there are about 31 who are members of the 99 per cent.

Plus, Tokyo has been rated one of the 20 safest cities in the world.

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2. Japan

Uniqlo’s Tadashi Yanai is the richest person in Japan, according to Forbes. He ranks 42nd in the world with a fortune of $19.6 billion.

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1. USA

With 18 million, the USA is home to more members of the 1 per cent than any other country. Proportionally, the country doesn’t do so well, though, with only one in about 177 Americans falling into the 1 per cent.

You may also be interested in the top 20 inexpensive US holiday spots.