The value of all the world’s real estate reached $326.5 trillion in 2020, a 5% increase on 2019 levels and a record high. Growth was driven by residential which is by far the largest real estate sector, accounting for 79% of all global real estate value. It saw its value increase by 8% over the year, to some $258.5 trillion. The world’s most significant store of wealth, real estate is more valuable than all global equities and debt securities combined, and almost four times that of global GDP. The value of all gold ever mined pales by comparison at $12.1 trillion, at just 4% the value of global property.

China, home to 1.4 billion people, is the world’s most valuable residential market and now accounts for 30% of total global residential value. Total residential value here grew by 13% in 2020, driven by strong price growth coupled with the delivery of new supply.