What Is the Average Net Worth of a Person
The average net worth of a person is calculated by dividing the total wealth held by adults in a country or globally by the number of adults, and it can be skewed by a small number of ultra-wealthy individuals. The median net worth, which represents the midpoint, is a more common measure of a typical person's financial position. Credit Suisse's Global Wealth Report 2024 and subsequent updates from Forbes provide the most recent widely cited global figures.
In the latest available data, the global median adult net worth is roughly 10,000 to 12,000 U.S. dollars, while the mean average is significantly higher due to concentrated wealth among the top percentile. The United States has one of the highest mean averages, driven by real estate, equity holdings, and business ownership, but its median remains far below the mean because of wealth inequality.
How Average Net Worth Is Measured and Reported
Key Components of Net Worth
Net worth equals total assets, including real estate, financial investments, business equity, and cash, minus all liabilities such as mortgages, student loans, and credit card debt. For most households, the primary asset is owner-occupied housing, while the largest liability is typically the mortgage on that home. Financial assets like retirement accounts, stocks, and bonds make up a smaller share for the average person than for high-net-worth households.
Data Sources and Methodologies
Major sources include the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, the World Inequality Database, and national statistical agencies that publish household balance sheet data. The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances provides detailed U.S. breakdowns by age, income, and race. Global comparisons rely on standardized wealth definitions to ensure cross-country consistency, though differences in housing ownership and pension systems can affect reported figures.
Country Comparisons and Factors That Influence Average Net Worth
Top Countries by Average and Median Wealth
Countries with high homeownership rates, strong equity markets, and low household debt tend to report higher median net worth, such as Australia, Switzerland, and the United States. In the U.S., the mean net worth per adult is well above 400,000 U.S. dollars, but the median is closer to 100,000 to 120,000 U.S. dollars, reflecting a long right tail of wealthy households. The Global Wealth Report highlights that the top 10 percent of adults globally own the majority of all wealth.
Drivers of Wealth Growth and Inequality
Rising stock and housing market values increase average net worth for asset owners, while inflation and high interest rates can erode the net worth of highly leveraged households. Business ownership, particularly in sectors like technology and finance, concentrates wealth among a small group, pushing the mean average higher than the median. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission tracks market participation and ownership patterns that influence these distribution gaps.