New York and London are consistently ranked as having the world's best and most influential financial systems, leading in global financial centres indices for 2025. These hubs dominate in capital, infrastructure, and regulatory strength. For stability and wealth protection, Switzerland is considered the global benchmark, while Singapore and Hong Kong lead in Asia.
Hong Kong's financial system is the best in the world for supporting economic competitiveness and growth, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Competiveness Report 2014-2015.
India has emerged as the global leader in fast payments, according to a recent note by the International Monetary Fund. This is primarily driven by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which processes billions of transactions monthly.
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Which country is 100% cashless?
Sweden has officially become the first country in the world to go completely cashless. Almost every shop, café, and public transport system in Sweden now accepts only digital payments like cards or mobile apps. The popular app “Swish,” launched in 2012, is used by millions of Swedes to send and receive money instantly.
The most popular payment method for in-store transactions in the UK is the contactless debit card, which has significantly surpassed cash in usage. Credit cards are also widely used, especially for online shopping, larger purchases, and to gain rewards or consumer protection benefits.
One of the best places to emigrate to from the UK with a family is Portugal, thanks to its low childcare costs, affordable housing and good flight connections to the UK. Next are Sweden, Italy, Spain and Finland, all of which offer excellent universities and a strong work-life balance.
China, India, and the United States will emerge as the world's three largest economies in 2050, with a total real U.S. dollar GDP of 70 percent more than the GDP of all the other G20 countries combined. In China and India alone, GDP is predicted to increase by nearly $60 trillion, the current size of the world economy.
The United States is richer by total economic output (GDP) and significantly richer per person (GDP per capita), though China's economy is the world's second-largest and growing faster, making it a significant economic powerhouse. The U.S. leads in overall GDP and wealth per person, while China's large population means lower per capita wealth despite its massive total output, with projections suggesting a slower convergence than previously thought due to U.S. strength and Chinese challenges like debt and demographics.
Why do rich people have bank accounts in Switzerland?
Switzerland offers political stability, a strong currency and a sophisticated financial system designed to protect wealth. Its private banks provide some of the world's best wealth management, estate planning and tax optimisation services. These factors make it a top choice for high-net-worth individuals.
New York City is the largest financial centre and fintech centre in the world. The commercial activity that takes place in a financial centre may include banking, asset management, insurance, and provision of financial markets, with venues and supporting services for these activities.
The countries with the highest financial literacy rates are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, where about 65 percent or more of adults are financially literate.
The most affordable ones turned out to be Latvia, Chile, Costa Rica, Slovakia, and Lithuania. A single person with a moderate lifestyle in these countries needs on average $1,000—1,100 per month.
The pyramid shows that: half of the world's net wealth belongs to the top 1%, top 10% of adults hold 85%, while the bottom 90% hold the remaining 15% of the world's total wealth, top 30% of adults hold 97% of the total wealth.
1. United States. The United States' GDP is the world's largest, being worth over a quarter of global output in nominal GDP terms. Moreover, it has among the world's highest GDP per capita.
Where can you live permanently with a British passport?
British citizens can live permanently in many places by obtaining residency or citizenship, with popular options including Commonwealth nations like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (often via skilled/retirement visas) and EU countries like Spain, Portugal, and Italy (through specific visas like Non-Lucrative or long-term permits after 5 years). Other destinations like Thailand, Malaysia, and the UAE also offer pathways, but securing permanent residency or citizenship depends on meeting specific criteria, points systems, or visa requirements.
Brits are moving to tax-efficient locations like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (especially Dubai) for zero income tax, while Malta attracts many with EU access and favorable remittance-based tax schemes. Other popular spots include Portugal, Greece, and Cyprus, offering tax incentives and lifestyle benefits, with some also considering the Bahamas, BVI, and Jersey for nil/low-tax environments, according to migration advisors.
What is the cheapest English-speaking country to live in?
What are the cheapest English-speaking countries to live in? India, Ghana, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Africa are among the most affordable options.
The UK is rapidly moving towards being a low-cash, but not fully cashless, society, with digital payments dominating, yet cash remains crucial for millions, especially vulnerable groups, leading to government efforts to protect access via legislation, banking hubs, and ATMs, even as some businesses go card-only and digital ID plans emerge. While cash use has plummeted (less than 10% of payments in 2024/25), the Bank of England and officials stress that a completely cashless system isn't feasible or desirable yet, focusing on maintaining choice and access for everyone, including the elderly and low-income individuals.
