The number of households with a net worth above $100m in China has reached 648, jumping from 13th place in 2009 to 5th in 2011, according to a global wealth report published by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

American business magazine Forbes commented saying: “China has seen an unprecedented increase in?its number of households worth over $100m.”

China ranks 3rd in millionaire households

The number of millionaire households across the world rose to 12.6 million. The U.S. still boasts the most millionaires with 5.13m households in the top bracket, despite a decrease of 129,000. China is in striking distance of Japan, which is in second place with 1.58m households. Britain ranks fourth.

Depressed stock markets and global economic instability have negatively contributed to the growth of private capital, with 2011 experiencing a conservative 1.9% growth rate, compared to 6.8% and 9.6% over the past two years.

Soaring millionaire households in China and India

According to a global wealth report by BCG, the new entrants, mostly from China and India, bring the number of millionaire households across the world to 12.6m. China’s number of millionaire households has soared from 850, 000 in 2009 to 1.293m in 2010. In 2011, China’s millionaire households increase by 15%.