Global value of private assets held in funds rises 15.4%
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Global value of private assets held in funds rises 15.4% 11 February 2025UK Reporter: Tahlia Kraefft
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The value of global private assets funds surged to a record US$14.9 trillion by the end of 2025, a 15.4 per cent increase in the past year, according to Ocorian’s Global Assets Monitor.
The global value of private assets has surged by 87 per cent since 2020, and 330 per cent since 2015, and is forecast to climb another 60 per cent by 2030 to hit US$23.9 trillion.
Global private equity fund asset values are driving the growth in private markets rising 17.8 per cent in 2025 to a record US$10.6 trillion at the start of this year — the highest annual growth rate since 2021.
Ocorian’s Global Asset Monitor forecasts the total value of private equity assets will rise by two thirds to reach US$17.4 trillion by the end of 2030.
Ocorian's Global Asset Monitor estimates total global assets in 2025 experienced the largest annual increase ever recorded, up US$38.6 trillion year-on-year (YoY) to a record US$282.9 trillion.
Within that total global private equity, private debt, infrastructure, and real estate funds all hit record valuations and Ocorian forecasts growth will continue building on expansion over the past 10 years.
However, it believes the growth in assets will drive consolidation with mainstream fund managers increasingly targeting the private markets sector.
Ocorian’s analysis shows 2025’s soaring growth in private equity global assets has been driven in particular by Asian markets which hit a record US$2.4 trillion, up 28 per cent YoY.
Assets in North America still dominate fund holdings — Ocorian’s modelling shows they ended 2025 at US$5.4 trillion, comprising of just over half of the world’s assets under management.
Funds based in Asia topped US$3.2 trillion — double Europe’s US$1.6 trillion — and funds in the Middle East ended the year managing US$55 billion.
The view of fund managers and investment professionals in the Middle East
Middle Eastern private markets assets under management hit a record US$73 billion at the end of 2025, up from US$64 billion in 2024.
Ben Hill, global co-head of fund services at Ocorian, comments: "Our latest edition of the Global Asset Monitor reveals the record-breaking reality of private asset funds growth over the last year.
"The surge to £14.9 trillion during 2025 further supports our projection that private asset funds markets will expand to US$23.9 trillion by the end of the decade, up 60 per cent on today’s value.
“Private markets are growing while public markets remain constrained by rates, concentration risk and fewer viable exits. We see long-term growth across all four main asset classes.
“Key trends that will support the growth of private equity include the choice by companies to delay or avoid public listings when seeking an exit, resulting in private investors having access to value for longer. In the private credit space, borrowers value the speed and flexibility private lenders offer compared to traditional banks.
“Tailored debt structures and strong alignment with private equity sponsors often outweigh higher cost of capital for many borrowers. For infrastructure, patient capital suits long-term project finance, while private real estate funds provide far greater flexibility than public REITs meeting the needs of investors, developers and property operators.”
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