Global financial wealth rose to a record $333 trillion in 2025, marking its fastest growth since 2021, management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) annual global wealth report has found.
Cross-border wealth increased 8.4% to $15.7 trillion amid demand for geographic diversification and continued market volatility.
For the first time, Hong Kong became the world’s largest cross-border booking centre in 2025, with cross-border wealth rising to $2.9 trillion, matching Switzerland’s total but with stronger annual growth at 10.7% versus 7.6%.
The UK remained among the world’s five largest booking centres, with cross-border wealth growing 7.0% to around $1 trillion in 2025.
Changes to UK non-domicile and inheritance tax policies are beginning to influence wealth planning decisions among internationally mobile high net worth individuals, according to the report.
UK cross-border wealth growth is expected to moderate to around 5% annually through 2030, it added.
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Emerging markets are expected to add around $12 trillion in financial wealth through 2030, with India alone expected to contribute more than $2 trillion, according to the research.
AI could unlock capacity gains of between 25% and 55% across onboarding, servicing, portfolio management and wealth planning functions, estimated the researchers.
Dean Frankle, MD and partner at BCG and the report’s co-author, said: “For the UK, the focus is increasingly shifting towards how wealth managers can support internationally mobile clients with more sophisticated cross-border planning, while continuing to invest in technology and AI capabilities that strengthen advice, client engagement, and productivity. Global wealth flows are increasingly being shaped by demand for geographic diversification, evolving cross-border investment patterns, and the growing importance of internationally connected financial centres.”
