The rich grew richer last year, even as the world endured the worst recession in decades.

A stock market rebound helped the world's ranks of millionaires climb 17 percent to 10 million, while their collective wealth surged 19 percent to $39 trillion, nearly recouping losses from the financial crisis, according to the latest Merrill Lynch-Capgemini world wealth report.

Stock values rose by half, while hedge funds recovered most of their 2008 losses, in a year marked by government stimulus spending and central bank easing.

"We are already seeing distinct signs of recovery and, in some areas, a complete return to 2007 levels of wealth and growth," Bank of America Corp wealth management chief Sallie Krawcheck said.

The fastest growth in wealth took place in India, China and Brazil, some of the hardest hit markets in 2008. Wealth in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific soared to record highs.

Asia's millionaire ranks rose to 3 million, matching Europe for the first time, paced by a 4.5 percent economic expansion.

Asian millionaires' combined wealth surged 31 percent to $9.7 trillion, surpassing Europe's $9.5 trillion.

In North America, the ranks of the rich rose 17 percent and their wealth grew 18 percent to $10.7 trillion.

The United States was home to the most millionaires in 2009 -- 2.87 million -- followed by Japan with 1.65 million, Germany with 861,000, and China with 477,000.

Switzerland had the highest concentration of millionaires: nearly 35 for every 1,000 adults.

Yet as portfolios bounced back, investors remained wary after a collapse that erased a decade of stock gains, fueled a contraction in the global economy and sent unemployment soaring.

The report, based on surveys with more than 1,100 wealthy investors with 23 firms, found that the rich were well served by holding a broad range of investments, including commodities and real estate.

尽管全球经历了几十年来最严重的经济衰退，但去年富人们的财富仍出现了增长。

据美林-凯捷最新发布的世界财富报告，在股市反弹的推动下，去年全球的百万富翁数量增加了17%，达到1000万人，他们的财富总量增长了19%，达到39万亿美元，基本上收回了在金融危机中所受的损失。

去年，由于多国政府实行经济刺激计划，中央银行放宽货币政策，全球股票价值上升了一半，对冲基金也收回了在2008年的大部分损失。

美国银行财富管理业务主管萨利•克劳切克说：“我们已经看到明显的复苏迹象，部分地区的财富和经济增长已经完全恢复到了2007年的水平。”

其中，印度、中国和巴西是全球财富增长最快的地区，这几个国家同时也是2008年遭受金融危机冲击最为严重的市场。拉丁美洲和亚太地区的财富总量暴涨，创历史新高。

去年亚洲的富翁数量增至300万，首次与欧洲持平，该地区的经济增幅达到4.5%。

去年，亚洲富翁的财富总量增长了31%，达到9.7万亿美元，超过了欧洲的9.5万亿美元。

北美地区的富翁数量增加了17%，财富总量增长18%，达到10.7万亿美元。

美国是去年富翁数量最多的国家，达到287万；其次是日本，达165万人；德国为86.1万；中国为47.7万。

瑞士则是富翁密度最高的国家，每1000个成年人中就有近35个富翁。

然而尽管股市反弹，刚经历了金融风暴的投资者们仍然较为谨慎。这场金融危机让十年的股票收益化为乌有，导致全球经济萎缩、失业率高涨。

这一报告基于对23个企业的1100多名富翁投资者开展的多项调查。调查发现，富人们通过多领域的投资获得较高收益，其中包括商品和房地产等。