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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
Royal Palace at the end of Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Norway.

Sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund comprising of financial assets such as stocks, bonds, property, precious metals and other financial instruments that are invested globally.

Some countries have created SWFs to diversify their revenue streams.

The amount of money in these SWF is substantial.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

Source: swfinstitute.org

Norway

Sovereign wealth fund name: Government Pension Fund - Global

Total assets: $715.9 billion

Year of inception: 1990

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 1

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
Sowwah Square on Marayah Island in Abu Dhabi's central business district, United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Sovereign wealth fund name: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

Total assets: $627 billion

Year of inception: 1976

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 2

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Yintai Centre, left, and China World Trade Centre Tower III, right, in Beijing's central business district, China.

China

Sovereign wealth fund name: Safe Investment Company

Total assets: $567.9 billion

Year of inception: 1997

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 3

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia

Sovereign wealth fund name: Sama Foreign Holdings

Total assets: $532.8 billion

Year of inception: N/A

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 4

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
An aerial view shows vehicles travelling on intersections at night in downtown Shanghai, China.

China

Sovereign wealth fund name: China Investment Corporation

Total assets: $482 billion

Year of inception: 2007

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 5

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Kuwait City.

Kuwait

Sovereign wealth fund name: Kuwait Investment Authority

Total assets: $342 billion

Year of inception: 1953

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 6

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
An aerial view of Hong Kong's cityscape.

Hong Kong

Sovereign wealth fund name: Hong Kong Monetary Authority Investment Portfolio

Total assets: $298.7 billion

Year of inception: 1993

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 7

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Singapore's central business district.

Singapore

Sovereign wealth fund name: Government of Singapore Investment Corporation

Total assets: $247.5 billion

Year of inception: 1981

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 8

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
St Nicholas (Nikolskaya) Tower, left, and History Museum, right, in Moscow's Red Square, Russia.

Russia

Sovereign wealth fund name: National Welfare Fund

Total assets: $175.5 billion

Year of inception: 2008

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 9

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
An aerial view shows Shanghai's financial district skyline along the Huang Pu river in China.

China

Sovereign wealth fund name: National Social Security Fund

Total assets: $160.6 billion

Year of inception: 2000

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 10

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A roller coaster in front of the 'Far Far Away' section at the Universal Studios theme park in Singapore.

Singapore

Sovereign wealth fund name: Temasek Holdings

Total assets: $157.5 billion

Year of inception: 1974

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 11

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Doha with buildings under construction in Qatar.

Qatar

Sovereign wealth fund name: Qatar Investment Authority

Total assets: $115 billion

Year of inception: 2005

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 12

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
An outdoor shopping mall in Melbourne, Australia.

Australia

Sovereign wealth fund name: Australian Future Fund

Total assets: $88.7 billion

Year of inception: 2006

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 13

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Jardin Essai botanical garden at Hamma in Algiers, Algeria.

Algeria

Sovereign wealth fund name: Revenue Regulation Fund

Total assets: $77.2 billion

Year of inception: 2000

Original source of funds: Oil and gas

Global rank in total funds: 14

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
Towers are seen next to a Dubai Metro station on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sovereign wealth fund name: Investment Corporation of Dubai

Total assets: $70 billion

Year of inception: 2006

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 15

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Abu Dhabi's skyline in United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Sovereign wealth fund name: International Petroleum Investment Corporation

Total assets: $65.3 billion

Year of inception: 1984

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 16

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Leptis Magna, a Unesco World Heritage site on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, some 120km east of Tripoli in Libya.

Libya

Sovereign wealth fund name: Libyan Investment Authority

Total assets: $65 billion

Year of inception: 2006

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 17

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan

Sovereign wealth fund name: Kazakhstan National Fund

Total assets: $61.8 billion

Year of inception: 2000

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 18

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
People exit subway station in the Gangnam area of Seoul, South Korea.

South Korea

Sovereign wealth fund name: Korea Investment Corporation

Total assets: $56.6 billion

Year of inception: 2005

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 19

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, a Ferrari themed amusement park, in United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Sovereign wealth fund name: Mubadala Development Company

Total assets: $53.1 billion

Year of inception: 2002

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 20

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of residential buildings in north western Tehran, Iran.

Iran

Sovereign wealth fund name: National Development Fund of Iran

Total assets: $49.6 billion

Year of inception: 2011

Original source of funds: Oil and gas

Global rank in total funds: 21

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
Aurora Borealis is pictured above a house along the Old Glenn Highway, Alaska, United States.

Alaska, United States

Sovereign wealth fund name: Alaska Permanent Fund

Total assets: $46.8 billion

Year of inception: 1976

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 22

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of the city centre of Kuala Lumpur under a light haze in Malaysia.

Malaysia

Sovereign wealth fund name: Khazanah Nasional

Total assets: $39.1 billion

Year of inception: 1993

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 23

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of central Baku in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan

Sovereign wealth fund name: State Oil Fund

Total assets: $32.7 billion

Year of inception: 1999

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 24

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A water taxi passes the country's landmark Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

Brunei

Sovereign wealth fund name: Brunei Investment Agency

Total assets: $30 billion

Year of inception: 1983

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 25

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
People walk past the Printemps department store in Paris, France.

France

Sovereign wealth fund name: Strategic Investment Fund

Total assets: $25.5 billion

Year of inception: 2008

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 26

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
Cyclists pass the downtown skyline in Austin, Texas, United States.

Texas, United States

Sovereign wealth fund name: Texas Permanent School Fund

Total assets: $25.5 billion

Year of inception: 1854

Original source of funds: Oil and other

Global rank in total funds: 27

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A woman cycles past the 'Coffee To Get Her' restaurant near Dublin city centre, which becomes a bar and club in the evenings, in Ireland.

Ireland

Sovereign wealth fund name: National Pensions Reserve Fund

Total assets: $19.4 billion

Year of inception: 2001

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 28

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A view of Auckland from atop the Sky Tower in New Zealand.

New Zealand

Sovereign wealth fund name: New Zealand Superannuation Fund

Total assets: $18.5 billion

Year of inception: 2003

Original source of funds: Non-commodity

Global rank in total funds: 29

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30 biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world

Last updated on: May 15, 2013 08:57 IST
A worker cleans away snow around the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada.

Canada

Sovereign wealth fund name: Alberta's Heritage Fund

Total assets: $16.4 billion

Year of inception: 1976

Original source of funds: Oil

Global rank in total funds: 30