High net wealth figure up 18%
These are people who have investable assets of more than $1m (€620,000), excluding their main residence.
By the end of 2006, the number stood at 33,000 against 39,000 at the end of last year, according to the figures provided by consultancy firm, the Scorpio Partnership.
The rise of 18% compares with a 4.5% rise globally last year.
This data assisted in the completion of the latest global wealth report from Knight Frank and Citi Private Bank, which found prime property prices fell by 15% in Dublin last year — the largest drop recorded in the report.
The drop in Dublin compares with an 11% rise in global prime property prices last year.
The highest growth was reported in Antigua (40%), St Jean Cap Ferrat (39%) and St Petersburg (38%).
The areas with the lowest growth after Dublin were falls of 13% in Ibiza, Spain, and a fall of 7% in Noosa Heads, Australia.
“With the significant exception of London, the main Swiss centres and Monaco, most EU locations saw price growth well below the global average.
“EU markets have to some extent stagnated, due in part to high price growth in previous years squeezing affordability and also the slowdown in the Eurozone economy,” according to the report.
Dublin also slumped to the bottom of a league for the most expensive locations for prime residential property.
The report placed London at the top of the charts as most expensive location for prime residential property at £3,025 (€3,772) per square foot, followed by Monaco (£2,877) and St Jean Cap Ferrat (£2,860).
Dublin comes in at £414 (€515) per square foot, behind Chanti in Italy and Berkshire in Britain.
The report also said that Northern Europeans, especially the Irish and British, place a high degree of importance on the ownership of a second home.
“The need for a home in the sun is very high for high net worth individuals from colder climes in general,” it said.
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