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Sweden is ranked as the world’s sixth richest country in terms of average wealth per adult, overtaking countries such as the United States, China and Japan.

Average wealth was $US284,692 (1.95 million kronor), according to Credit Suisse's annual Global Wealth Report. Switzerland, Australia and Norway were ranked as the richest three countries in terms of average wealth per adult.

Wealth is defined as financial and real assets including housing owned by individuals minus debt.

None of the world's riches nations, the US and China, were to be found on the average wealth per adult list.

With global wealth risen 14 percent over the past 18 months to USD$231 trillion, led by growing wealth in countries like Singapore, India and South Africa, the report predicts that global wealth will increase by 50 percent by 2016.

The Asia-Pacific region – led by China, Japan, Australia and India – has become the most important wealth generators today, accounting for 36 percent of global wealth creation since 2000 and 54 percent since 2010.

“Emerging countries, with their vast increase of middle class consumers over the next few years will drive trends in consumptions. Brands need to address these markets if they wish to tap into this large group of new spenders”, said Hans-Ulrich Meister, CEO of Credit Suisse Private Banking.

The Report also found that 29.7 million adults with household wealth of more than USD 1 million make up less than 1 percent of the world’s adult population but own 38.5 percent of global household wealth.