While scores of average people around the world lost their jobs, homes and other assets in the Great Recession, billionaires have added to their ranks and holdings.

In 2009, when the financial crisis was at its peak, there were only 1,360 billionaires and their combined wealth totaled $3.1 trillion. In just four years, their numbers have increased by 60 percent and their combined wealth has more than doubled. Today there are 2,170 individuals with personal assets of more than $1 billion and their combined wealth is $6.5 trillion, according to the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2013. That's more than the wealth of every single country in the world except the U.S. and China.

According to the report, 60 percent of all billionaires are self-made, while 40 percent inherited their wealth or grew their fortunes from inheritance.

Asia saw the highest percentage increase in billionaires in the past year, and according to the study, the region will catch up with North America in five years.

Click here for an interactive map of the top 10 countries and top 20 cities where billionaires make their home.

Here’s an infographic with more insights:

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There are 60 percent more billionaires now than there were at the peak of the financial crisis. IBTimes/Lisa Mahapatra
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