Global distribution of money supply: how much money in the world is allocated to each person?

Imagine a situation where the entire money supply of the world is evenly distributed among all the inhabitants of the planet. In such a hypothetical scenario, a farmer from Wisconsin, a potter from New Delhi, a herder from Namibia, and a dentist from Sydney would have the same amount of money.

How much would each receive? To put it briefly: enough to buy a Dacia Sandero.

What is the money supply M2 and how is it distributed in the world

The modern financial system includes many elements that define the concept of wealth. One way to assess the potential distribution of funds in the world is to consider the entire money supply that exists in global financial markets.

This money supply is known as M2 — an intermediate money aggregate, including:

• Cash in circulation
• High-liquidity bank deposits with a term of up to 2 years
• Savings Accounts
• Money Market Accounts
• Deposits with access upon prior notice up to three months

In simpler terms, M2 is all the money that can be relatively quickly accessed. It is important to understand that M2 is different from the concept of global wealth, as the latter includes assets and real estate that are difficult to quickly convert into cash.

Money Supply M2 in Numbers: A Global Perspective

According to CEIC data, the global M2 money supply in 2024 is $123.3 trillion. In comparison, the latest data shows that the global broad money supply reached $129.3 trillion in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting steady growth at an annual rate of about 6.8% since 2000.

According to the UBS report "Global Wealth Report 2024", net private wealth in the world amounts to $487.9 trillion — significantly more than just the money supply.

Equal Distribution of Money: Economic Experiment

CEIC data on the global money supply M2 (123.313 trillion dollars) and UN statistics on the world population (8.161.973.000 people for the year 2024) allow for interesting calculations.

If the entire money supply M2 were evenly distributed, each resident of Earth would receive 15,108 dollars ( approximately 13,944 euros at the current exchange rate).

According to analytical data, this amount would be enough for:

• Coverage of the average household's expenses over two years
• Purchase of a used car
• Purchase of a new Dacia Sandero ( without additional options )

Financial Situation in Spain: National Context

If similar calculations are made for Spain, the results will differ somewhat. According to CEIC, the M2 money supply in Spain as of December 2024 was 1.648 trillion dollars (1.647.611,114 million).

Given that according to INE data, as of January 2025, there are 49,077,984 people living in Spain, with an even distribution, each Spaniard would receive 33,571.29 dollars ( about 30,967.97 euros at the current exchange rate).

These figures demonstrate a significant difference between the global and national distribution of the money supply, reflecting different levels of economic development and financial systems.

Money Supply in the Context of Modern Economics

The M2 money supply is a key indicator of the economic condition of a country and the world as a whole. Its volume affects inflation, interest rates, and overall economic stability. In just the past year, more than 3 trillion dollars of new liquidity has been added to the global financial system.

Despite the significant volumes of money supply in the world, its distribution remains extremely uneven, creating fundamental economic and social challenges that economists and financial regulators in all countries are working to address.