Feeling wealthy? New Zealand ranks sixth in global wealth report

New Zealand is the world's sixth richest country.

Only the US, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway and Australia rank ahead of the world, according to the Credit Suisse Global Wealth report.

But wealth is unvenly shared, and when it comes to the median income, New Zealand drops to eighth.

The United States, which makes it to the polls for its mid-term elections, does not even make the top 10 countries for median wealth per capita thanks to its levels of inequality.

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On the measure of median per capita wealth, Australia ranks the world's best place to be an ordinary, honest, hardworking person.

The Credit Suisse report is published once a year, and claims to be the most comprehensive global household wealth report in existence.

In order to rank countries, it coverts household wealth into US dollar terms.

It also includes wealth and wealth, as well as savings and business wealth.

Relative value of homes can be found in other countries, while other countries, with more modestly priced homes scoring less well.

Germany, the powerhouse economy of Europe.

Inequality researcher Max Rashbrooke said: "Credit Suisse will be working with Reserve Bank figures, which are based on what they are valued at, they are so colossally over valued."

And, Rashbrooke added: "Wealth data is extremely unreliable."

Among the policies Labor and the Green Party campaigning for the poorest households and increasing home ownership.

Rashbrooke said it would be some years before their effect on wealth inequality.

The International Monetary Fund's Global Housing Website Features New Zealand, quoted: "House price valuation metrics put New Zealand above other OECD countries, after large increases in price-to-income and price-to-rent ratios since 2000. "

The IMF said housing wealth in New Zealand, New Zealanders having a preference for larger homes.

But it pointed to the influx of credit, and the failure of the country to build homes for high prices.

"The IMF said."

Globally, Credit Suisse is worth $ 63,100 (NZ $ 93,670) per adult, but that was not evenly split between countries and regions.

"Nations with wealth for adults above US $ 100,000 are located in North America, Western Europe, and among the rich Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern countries," the report said.

Switzerland (US $ 530,240), Australia (US $ 411,060) and the United States (US $ 403,970) headed the table of wealth for adults.

They were followed by Belgium (US $ 313,050), oil-rich Norway (US $ 291,100), and New Zealand (US $ 289,800).

Canada, Denmark, Singapore, and France rounded out the top 10.

But when the ranking was done on median wealth, New Zealand slipped from two places behind Australia, to seven rungs further down the ladder.

"The ranking by median wealth for lower income countries," said Credit Suisse.

"This year, Australia edged ahead of Switzerland into first place, according to our estimates."

Since the Global Financial Crisis, there has been an increase in the level of wealth.

Anti-poverty campaign group Oxfam also produces reports on global wealth. It was last reported, issued in January, but it was not earned, but inherited.

"There is growing evidence that the current levels of extreme inequality far exceed what can be justified by talent, effort and risk-taking," it said.