Swiss are world’s wealthiest – and most indebted

Net financial assets of people living in Switzerland averaged €157,450 (CHF171,600) in 2014 Keystone

Swiss residents are still the wealthiest people in the world on a per capita basis, according to a report by insurer Allianz. But they also have the highest per capita debt in the world. 

According the 2015 Allianz Global Wealth Report published on Tuesday, net financial assets per Swiss resident averaged €157,450 (CHF171,600) in 2014 – a 5.8% increase on the previous year. 

Switzerland was ahead of second-place United States, where net per capita financial assets rose 4.2% to €138,710. Next come the British with €86,230. Switzerland has topped the ranking since 2000.

While Swiss residents are among the world’s top savers, they also have the highest private debt level, averaging €80,000 per person. Debt as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) remained high in 2014 at 122% compared to Germany (55%) and Austria (51%).

Allianz also highlighted growing inequalities within countries by using the Gini coefficient – a measure of income distribution of nations’ residents where zero is perfect equality and one (or 100%) is maximal inequality. Income inequalities are greatest in the US (80.6%), with Switzerland (61.2) doing better than neighbours Germany (73.3) and Austria (73.6). However, the Gini ratio has increased in Switzerland by three points over the past decade, Allianz reported.