Global Financial Assets Reach a Record $305 Trillion in 2024

Global financial assets grew by 8.1% in 2024 to a record $305 trillion, according to the annual report of the international consulting company Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Strong stock markets and positive investor sentiment supported this.

North America and the Asia-Pacific region remain the fastest-growing regions, with growth in US dollar terms of 14.9% and 7.3%, respectively. Financial assets in the Middle East and Africa increased by 4.8%, Western Europe by 0.8%, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia by 0.3%. At the same time, a decrease of 9.3% was recorded in Latin America, and Japan – by 5.2%.

Real assets worldwide grew by 4.4% last year. In particular, in Latin America they grew by 2.2%, in the Middle East and Africa – by 8.4%, in North America – by 11.2%, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia – by 1.4%, and in the Asia-Pacific region – by 2.7%. Meanwhile, in Japan, this figure decreased by 6.1%, in Western Europe – by 1.8%.

Financial assets include cash and deposits, bonds, stocks and shares of investment funds, as well as life insurance and pension fund savings. Real assets include real estate, and expensive durable goods, such as gold bars and other precious metals.

Global private debt rose 0.2% last year to $60.8 trillion. Including the Middle East and Africa, the increase was 13.4%, North America grew 2.2%, and Asia-Pacific grew 0.3%. At the same time, it fell 7% in Latin America, 5.5% in Japan, 2.7% in Western Europe, and 2.9% in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This figure includes credit cards, mortgages, and other short-term and long-term loans.