SA 'by far' Africa's richest and most advanced country - report

Cape Town - South Africa ranks 33rd worldwide in terms of total wealth and 38th worldwide in terms of the number of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) as of December 2017, according to a report by AfrAsia Bank and New World Wealth.

"Despite being only the 5th largest country in Africa in terms of population and 9th largest by land area, SA is by far the most advanced and richest country on the continent," the report states.

The report defines HNWIs as people with wealth of $1m (about R12m) or more. It defines wealth as the net assets of a person, which would include all their assets (property, cash, equities and business interests) less any liabilities.

According to the report, at the end of 2017 the total private wealth held in South Africa amounted to about $722bn. About 42% of this wealth is in the hands of HNWIs.

The average wealth per capita among South African individuals amounts to net assets of about $12 900 (about R160 000). This is the second highest level in Africa, behind Mauritius, according to the report.

It has found that South Africa is home to 43 600 HNWIs, each with net assets of R12m or more. The country is also home to 2 200 multimillionaires, each with net assets of $10m (about R120m) or more.

Home to five dollar billionaires

On top of that, South Africa is home to 98 individuals with net assets of $100m (about R1.2bn) or more and five dollar billionaires with net assets of $1bn (about R12bn) or more.

South Africa has more than twice as many HNWIs as any other African country.

• READ: Where to find those with R120m in Cape Town, Joburg

"Going forward, South Africa has strong fundamentals for wealth growth including a well-developed wealth management, fund management and banking system and a large free media which helps disseminate reliable information to investors. This sets South Africa apart from most other African markets," states the report.

"SA also has one of the 20 biggest stock exchanges in the world and is a potential hub for doing business in the rest of Africa."

The report found HNWIs are attracted to South Africa because of its lifestyle; good private healthcare; top private schools; top shopping centres; a fully developed luxury market; luxury holiday destinations and luxury residential estates and efficient private security companies.

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