• Tweeter

  • republish

Cuts of 100 yuan, taken here in a bank of Shanghai. AFP Photos / Johannes Eisele

For the first time, China has more wealth than the United States in the last annual barometer of Credit Suisse. In 2019, the bank counted 100 million Chinese among the richest 10% of the world, against 99 million Americans.

With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde

If red capitalism has helped to reduce poverty in China, Chinese runoff also allows the creation of huge fortunes. Just take a look through the window of a high-speed train that travels the continent, to take the measure. Concrete forests grew like soybeans after rain in the Chinese countryside, blowing up the portfolio of developers and investors.

A total wealth of 57 260 billion euros

In the report of Credit Suisse on the world's fortunes, what is striking is the speed of this enrichment. The total wealth of Chinese households rose from € 3,320 billion in 2000 to € 57,260 billion this year. A multiplication by 17 in less than 20 years, 5 to 6 times more than in most countries.

►Also read: In 2014, China was the 2nd country in the world in number of millionaires

China is particularly distinguished among the ultra-rich, among the 56,000 people with a capital exceeding 89 million euros, many Chinese among the 5,000 families with a fortune approaching 450 million euros . Rich people not crazy for a penny and well aware of their interests in "Chinese-style socialism". These figures that can make you dizzy must indeed be put in relation with the population of the empire of a billion and a half. Per capita, Switzerland has more super rich than China, and less mega poor.