Global Value of Private Assets Held in Funds Rises 15.4%
The report stressed that global private equity fund asset values are driving the growth in private markets rising 17.8% in 2025 to a record $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 $17.4 trillion by the end of 2030.
Growth of listed and private global assets
Ocorian’s Global Asset Monitor, which analyses private market fund values as well as listed equities, sovereign bonds, corporate bonds and municipal agency and other bonds, estimates total global assets in 2025 experienced the largest annual increase ever recorded, up $38.6 trillion year-on-year (15.8%) to a record $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 $2.4 trillion, up 28% year-on-year.
Assets in North America still dominate fund holdings – Ocorian’s modelling shows they ended 2025 at $5.4 trillion, comprising of just over half of the world’s AUM.
Funds based in Asia topped $3.2 trillion, double Europe’s $1.6 trillion and funds in the Middle East ended the year managing $55 billion.
Ben Hill, Global Co-Head of Fund Services at Ocorian said: “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 $23.9 trillion by the end of the decade, up 60% 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”.
Global private markets growth since 2015
The report indicates that Middle Eastern private markets assets under management hit a record $73 billion at the end of 2025, up from $64 billion in 2024.
An Ocorian survey of fund managers and investment professionals based in the Middle East who collectively manage $2.88 trillion in assets reveals that almost all expect strong growth in all private markets sectors in assets under management in the Middle East over the next five years.
All expect growth in real estate and infrastructure and 99% expect growth in private equity and private credit. Conventional energy and midstream is the sector expected to attract the largest share of institutional private capital in the Middle East over the next five years, followed by financial services and fintech.
The firm stated that almost three-quarters (72%) of those surveyed selected convectional energy and midstream, with 56% choosing financial services and fintech among their top five sectors. Real estate and urban development was chosen by 41% of respondents and infrastructure and transport by 38%, with 34% selecting logistics and industrials.
Ben Hill added: “Given the supportive policy environment, the rapidly expanding and increasingly sophisticated network of capital providers, intermediaries and supporting market structures, all coupled with a deep pool of regional riches and inflows of international wealth and talent, there is no reason why private assets should not grow significantly over the next five years. Indeed, we think the expectations uncovered in our survey are likely to be exceeded.
“The region is playing catch up and in our view its assets under management can comfortably double over the next five years across the four main asset classes.” #Global Value of Private Assets Held in Funds Rises 15.4% #
