US News

WORLD OF WEALTH

There’s a wealth of millionaires out there – but the global population of those rolling in dough grew at a smaller rate last year than in 2006, due to the drooping economy.

The number of super-rich with investable assets of at least $1 million, excluding their primary home, increased by 6 percent in 2007 to 10.1 million, according to the annual World Wealth Report released yesterday by Merrill Lynch & Co. and Capgemini Group.

In 2006, the growth rate of HNWIs (High Net Worth Individuals) was 8.3 percent. The millionaires’ combined wealth last year grew 9.4 percent to $40.7 trillion. Their average wealth was more $4 million.

The numbers of ultra-HNWIs – those with at least $30 million – increased by 8.8 percent.

When economic conditions deteriorated, mature markets took a hit during the second half of 2007, while emerging nations enjoyed “robust” gains, the report said.

“The US economic slowdown weighed heavily on key mature regions,” the report said. “However, strong performances in emerging markets boosted HNWI gains around the globe.”

India, China and Brazil were the countries that enjoyed the largest growth rates in the number of millionaires in 2007 – 22.7 percent, 20.3 percent, 19.1 percent, respectively. Russia rounded out the top 10 with a 14.4 percent growth.

By contrast, in the US the growth rate of HNWIs was 3.7 percent in 2007 compared to 9.4 percent in 2006.

There are 3,028,000 millionaires in the United States, the report said. Germany has 826,000 and China 415,000.

The United States “has the highest number [of HNWIs] and those individuals have the most wealth compared to any other country,” said Bill Sullivan, a Capgemini manager.

Last year, the millionaires shifted to more conservative assets. In 2006, about 24 percent of their portfolio consisted of real estate, while last year the share tumbled to 14 percent.

By 2012 the wealth of the richest on the planet is projected to reach $59.1 trillion, advancing at a rate of 7.7 percent, the report said. With Post Wire Services

rita.delfiner@nypost.com