Global Stock Market Participation

Abtadka

An Overview of Worldwide Data of Stock Market Users List

Estimates suggest that more than 500 million people globally are invested in the stock market. Participation varies significantly, driven by economic development, access to financial systems, and investment culture. 

Participation by Country (Percentage of Adult Population)

Stock ownership rates differ drastically around the world, whether through direct stock purchases or retirement/pension funds

The United States has one of the highest stock ownership rates in the world, with between 55% and 61% of adults owning stocks.

In Canada, about 49% of people take part, frequently through registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs).

Australia: Approximately 37% of people participate, mostly through required superannuation funds.

In the UK, about 33% of adults make stock market investments.

India: Despite widespread awareness, only roughly 9.5% of Indian households actually invest in securities markets, despite the country's rapidly growing acIt is estimated that there are more than 13.6 crore (136 million) distinct investors in India.

China: Although the Shanghai Stock Exchange reported a record 200 million retail investor accounts as of early 2024, only about 7% of the country's population makes direct stock market investments. 

Leading Brokers and Current User Information

Comprehensive global lists are not available, and broking firms report client numbers differently (total accounts vs. active clients). The majority of the data is available for significant regional markets, particularly the United States and India. 

India's Top Brokers (by Active Clients as of Mid-2025)

Digital-first brokers are driving the enormous expansion of the Indian market (Dalal Street). There are approximately 45–46 million (4.5–4.6 crore) active clients on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). 

Rank	Broker Name	Active Clients (approx.)	Market Share (approx.)
1	Groww (Next Billion Tech)	11.9 million (1.19 crore)	~26.2%
2	Zerodha	7.08 million (70.8 lakh)	~15.6%
3	Angel One	6.89 million (68.9 lakh)	~15.1%
4	Upstox	2.21 million (22.1 lakh)	~5.25%
5	ICICI Securities	1.97 million (19.7 lakh)	~4.15%
6	HDFC Securities	1.52 million (15.2 lakh)	~3.34%
7	Kotak Securities	1.41 million (14.1 lakh)	~3.06%

Source: NSE active client data for September 2025. 

Top Brokers in the U.S. (by Assets & Accounts)

The U.S. market is dominated by a few massive financial institutions, often referred to as the "Big Four": 

• Charles Schwab
• Fidelity Investments
• Vanguard
• J.P. Morgan

These firms manage trillions in assets and serve millions of clients, though precise "active trader" numbers are less frequently disclosed than total account numbers. 

Government-Affiliated Brokers

Most "government brokers" operate as standard commercial entities but may have a government or public sector bank as a primary stakeholder. Examples in India include:

• SBICAP Securities: A subsidiary of the State Bank of India (SBI), which is a public sector bank. They have over 1 million active clients.
• HDFC Securities & ICICI Securities: While private banks, they are major players with strong public institutional backing. 

The core stock exchanges themselves (like the National Stock Exchange - NSE and Bombay Stock Exchange - BSE in India) are regulated entities overseen by government bodies like SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), rather than brokers themselves. 

Data Limitations

The exact, unified data you requested is impossible to compile for several reasons:

• Proprietary Data: Brokerages view their exact active user numbers as competitive, proprietary data.
• Defining "Active User": Some reports list all registered accounts (India has over 194 million demat accounts), while others focus on active monthly or yearly traders (closer to 45 million in India).
• Global Fragmentation: Data is reported regionally and nationally, making global aggregation difficult. There is no single "world list".