Photographs: Issei Kato/Reuters
The London School of Economics professor Danny Quah forecasts that by 2050 the world's economic centre of gravity, a theoretical measure of the focal point of global economic activity based on GDP, will have shifted eastwards, as quoted in the Wealth Report 2012 by Knight Frank & Citi Private Bank.
There are now 18,000 centa-millionaires in the region covering South-East Asia, China and Japan.
While these countries can expect rapid economic growth, much of the wealth already held in developed economies will be maintained, according to Citi.
So, take a look at the top ten richest nations in terms of GDP (PPP) in 2050...
Note: GDP by purchasing power parity (PPP)
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: David Loh/Reuters
Singapore
Ranking: 1
2010: $ 56,532
2050: $137,710
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Tyrone Siu/Reuters
Hong Kong
Ranking: 2
2010: $45,301
2050: $116,639
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Alberto Barleycom/Reuters
Taiwan
Ranking: 3
2010: NA
2050: $114, 093
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Reuters
South Korea
Ranking: 4
2010: NA
2050: $107,752
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Reuters
US
Ranking: 5
2010: $45,511
2050: $100,802
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Ali Jarekji/Reuters
Saudi Arabia
Ranking: 6
2010: NA
2050: $98,311
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Chris Wattie/Reuters
Canada
Ranking: 7
2010: $38,640
2050: $96,375
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Reuters
United Kingdom
Ranking: 8
2010: NA
2050: $91,130
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters
Switzerland
Ranking: 9
2010: $42,470
2050: $90,956
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World's top 10 richest countries in 2050
Photographs: Mike Blake/Reuters
Austria
Ranking: 10
2010: $39,0773
2050: $90,158
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