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Switzerland retains top spot in global wealth ranking

Although Switzerland is the wealthiest country per capita, not everyone wears luxury items Keystone

Swiss households are not only the richest in the world but they have also grown richer over the past year, according to a report by insurer Allianz. Paradoxically, the Swiss also have the highest per capita debt in the world.

Swiss private households are the richest in the world according to the 2014 Allianz Global Wealth Report, released on Tuesday. The per capita assets at the end of 2013 amounted to €146,540 (CHF 176,900) compared to €141,890 in 2012. This puts the Swiss well ahead of the second-place United States, which has net per capita financial assets of “only” €119,570.

Swiss households come out on top globally not onlyin terms of net financial assets alone, but also with the inclusion of real estate assets (a total of €306,580 per capita).

Growth in savings was 5.3%, in line with the average for the Western Europe region. Swiss assets are divided into bank deposits (32%), securities (26%) and insurance and pensions (42%).

Switzerland also has the highest level of financial debt per capita, totaling €75,490. 

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR