There Are Now 2,170 billionaires, Asia Has Fastest-Growing Billionaire Population, Study Shows

The global billionaire population has reached a total of 2,170 people, according to the inaugural Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2013, and their wealth is growing.

The billionaire census -- the first measure of the wealthiest humans around the planet -- forecast that in five years, Asia will have nearly as many billionaires as North America.

Asia saw the highest percentage increase in billionaire population, 3.7 percent since 2012, and the largest increase in total wealth, 13 percent, which suggests that the increase in billionaires is helping to shift the balance of global wealth.

Since the global financial crisis took root in 2009, 810 individuals have become billionaires, according to the report, which was released Wednesday. The net worth of all billionaires has more than doubled since 2009, rising from $3.1 trillion in 2009 to $6.5 trillion in 2013. This could fund the U.S. budget deficit until 2024.

Latin America saw the slowest increase in billionaire wealth, rising by just 2.3 percent since July 2012.

Sixty percent of billionaires are self-made, while 40 percent inherited their wealth or built on a family fortune.

The Billionaire Census measured the changes in the number of billionaires as well as their total wealth between July 2012 and July 2013.