“The great migration of assets”. Eastern European country where 142,000 millionaires move in 2025 to the detriment of Switzerland
A lesser -known country in Eastern Europe has just been designated the fastest growing center in the world, according to American Fortune magazine.
A historical change occurs among the richest people in the world. About 142,000 millionaires intend to park their luxury houses in London or France this year, in favor of higher opportunities and financial stability abroad, against the background of armed conflicts and commercial wars that affect the global economy.
This phenomenon is called the “great migration of wealth”. As a result, countries such as Montenegro, the United Arab Emirates and Malta have a significant increase in the number of millionaires in their territory, writes Fortune.
While loved ones for a long time, such as Switzerland, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (EAU), continue to attract wealthy people, a lesser -known country in Eastern Europe has been designated the fastest growing center in the world.
Located between the Adriatic Sea with its blue and spectacular Dinaric Alps, Montenegro has registered a 124% increase in the number of millionaires in its territory in the last decade, according to the Henley report on the migration of private assets 2025.
What attracts millionaires
In general, Montenegro remains particularly attractive due to its proximity to Europe and fiscal flexibility, according to Dominic Volek, the director of the Henley & Partners group, a British consulting company in the field of investment migration, based in London. In addition, the views are unmatched.
“The reduced fiscal regime of Montenegro, with uniform income taxes and without taxes on inheritance or donations, made it very attractive for the conservation of wealth,” Volek for Fortune told.
“Together with his Adriatic coast, the luxury real estate offers and the attractive Mediterranean lifestyle, the country has become a favorite destination for investors motivated by lifestyle,” he added.
A historical moment for the migration of the millionaires
Next year it is expected that it will bring an even larger number of moving millionaires: about 165,000 are expected to migrate to green pastures around the world, according to the Henley report.
Recent geopolitical instability, macroeconomic difficulties and sociopolitical fragmentation have only accelerated the ultra-rich desire to emigrate, said Volek. So much so that some began to call it the “great migration of wealth”.
“As the great powers are becoming more and more directly involved, global investors are increasingly considering the political risk in the residence and portfolio decisions,” Volek said.
The United Arab Emirates have managed to attract in particular migrants with high incomes, because the country is political and favorable to business. Also, this country has a Golden Visa program, which has contributed to its transformation into a popular destination for wealthy people. In fact, it is expected that the United Arab Emirates will attract about 9,800 millionaires this year, the largest number of all countries.
Wealth migrates from Western Europe
While European countries such as Montenegro, Malta and Poland have considerable increases in the number of millionaires, other parts of the continent are facing rich citizens.
The year 2025 is the first of the last decade when a European country is at the forefront of the world ranking of countries with the largest number of millionaires leaving, the United Kingdom occupying the first place.
It is estimated that about 16,500 millionaires will leave the British islands this year, totaling about $ 91.8 billion. This translates into a 9% discount on the Milion population in the UK over the last decade, partly due to the consequences of Brexit, political uncertainty and fiscal changes to people without home.
“Despite this wave of departures, the United Kingdom remains a desired destination for people with high incomes, especially for Americans disappointed by the current Trump administration,” wrote Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, in relation to the data in the Henley report.
“However, without a viable entry path, the country is not able to compensate for the exodus, which leads to an imbalance increasing between the wealth that reaches the country and the one that goes abroad,” he says.
Other European powers, including France, Spain and Germany, also show worrying signs of migration, Volek said. He explained that, between 2023 and 2024, there was an 114% increase in demand for alternative residence and citizenship options among German millionaires.
“This trend suggests a wider erosion of trust among the rich elite in Europe, with potential long -term consequences for financial stability and regional innovation,” he concludes.
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