These are the richest countries in Asia in 2026, according to a new prosperity index

It is hardly breaking news that Singapore is often counted among the richest countries in the world. The city-state regularly appears near the top of global wealth rankings, thanks to its high incomes, strong infrastructure and reputation as one of Asia’s biggest financial hubs. But a new ranking suggests that being “rich” should mean more than just having impressive economic numbers on paper.

According to the HelloSafe Prosperity Index 2026, Singapore is the richest country in Asia, ranking sixth globally with a prosperity score of 66.43 out of 100. It is also the only non-European country to make the global top seven, sitting behind Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Iceland.

The index looks beyond GDP alone, which is where things get more interesting. Instead of measuring only economic output, HelloSafe combines indicators such as GDP, gross national income, income inequality, poverty rates and the Human Development Index, which factors in life expectancy, education and income per capita.

Singapore performs strongly thanks to its high economic output and standard of living, but the ranking also comes with a caveat: the country was penalised for having the highest income inequality in the panel. So while Singapore may be rich, the wealth gap is still very much part of the picture.

The next Asian economies on the list are Qatar, ranked 11th globally with a score of 50.60, and the United Arab Emirates, which comes in at 13th with 50.22. Both remain among the region’s wealthiest countries, powered by energy, finance, aviation, tourism and global investment.

Globally, Norway takes the top spot, followed by Ireland and Luxembourg. Europe dominates much of the ranking, proving that the richest countries are not necessarily the ones with the biggest economies – but the ones where wealth is more likely to translate into quality of life.

The 20 richest countries in the world in 2026, according to HelloSafe:

1. Norway – 77.65
2. Ireland – 75.06
3. Luxembourg – 74.39
4. Switzerland – 72.46
5. Iceland – 72.23
6. Singapore – 66.43
7. Denmark – 65.78
8. Netherlands – 58.17
9. Belgium – 54.83
10. Sweden – 54.62
11. Qatar – 50.60
12. Germany – 50.41
13. United Arab Emirates – 50.22
14. Finland – 49.13
15. Australia – 46.24
16. Austria – 43.46
17. United States – 43.39
18. Canada – 39.44
19. Czech Republic – 38.49
20. France – 38.12

Read the full list here.