Which country has the most CFAS?

Asked by: Marley Metz  |  Last update: October 1, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (18 votes)

The United States has the highest total number of CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charterholders and candidates in the world. However, Canada holds the highest number of CFA charterholders per capita, making them 4-5 times more common there than in the U.S.. China is also a major, fast-growing market for CFA candidates.

Which country has the most CFA holders?

The Vatican has the highest CFA charterholders per capita, followed by Cayman.

What country has the most CFAs per capita?

Which country has more CFA Charterholders per capita than the Cayman Islands? Hint: It has no stock exchange, no hedge funds, and more clergy than civilians. Vatican City tops the list.

What company has the most CFAs?

How, and why, RBC built the world's largest cohort of CFA...

  • By David Kitai. ...
  • RBC employs more CFA charterholders than any other financial firm in the world.

Which countries have high demand for CFAs?

Target Global Financial Hubs

Cities like New York, London, Singapore, Dubai, Toronto, and Mumbai top the list of hiring CFA charterholders. These hubs offer a dense concentration of jobs in asset management, investment banking, and portfolio research.

Which country pays highest salary to CFA?

23 related questions found

How much do CFAs earn in the USA?

CFA charterholders working for foundations or trusts earn roughly $100,000 per year; those in private practice with a company earn around $85,000. Charterholders working in colleges or universities earn around $75,000.

Which country is best for CFA?

The United States is one of the most lucrative markets for Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs) due to its vast and dynamic financial industry.

Is CFA more prestigious than MBA?

CFA vs MBA – CFA

The CFA program costs less than an MBA and is more finance-specific and technically focused. It's most suitable for people who are interested in equity research, and portfolio management. The prestige of having the charter is completely homogeneous, as there is only one standard.

Are there more CFAs or CPAs?

The CFA® is notorious for having one of the lowest pass rates of any professional exam, with rates for the CFA Level I exam hovering around 40%. The CPA exam isn't much better, with rates around 40% for two of the three Core sections. And yet, there are over 200,000 CFAs and 670,000 CPAs.

Who is the best CFA in the world?

One of the top CFAs in the world, Margaret Franklin, is the CEO of the CFA Institute. Earlier, he oversaw international wealth management for North America and served as president of BNY Mellon Wealth Management and Advisory Services in Canada.

Do CFA exams expire?

The simple answer here is no. Once you clear all three levels of the exam and you have obtained the CFA certification, it remains with you forever.

Is CFA tougher than CA?

Yes, the answer to Is CFA easy for CA students is that many CA students find CFA easier. It is due to the rigidity of the CA exams, as it is considered the toughest of all the accounting and finance exams to crack.

Who is the youngest CFA charterholder in the world?

Akora Isaac Simpson becomes youngest CFA Charterholder in Ghana. The CFA programme is the most coveted professional financial designation globally. It consists of three exams written once annually across the world. Isaac at 26, has been awarded the CFA Charter.

Is CFA respected in the USA?

The CFA charter is respected across more than 165 countries… It's often referred to as the “gold standard” in finance. This recognition means that whether you're in India, New York, London or Singapore, your skills are acknowledged and valued.

Do JP Morgan hire CFA?

If you aspire to be employed by JP Morgan, ICICI Bank, or an international consulting behemoth like EY, the CFA certification provides that competitive advantage.

What is the average age for CFA Level 3 candidates?

Meanwhile, the average for Level III has remained very consistent for much of the last half-decade – around 30 years of age – before dropping to 29.7 this past June.

Does Goldman Sachs hire CFA?

High Employer Demand – Top companies like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, and McKinsey recruit CFA-certified professionals. With all these advantages, the CFA charterholder is set to be a finance leader.

Is 35 too late for CFA?

Average Age of CFA Candidates

Although many candidates are in their late twenties or early thirties, the Program has a wide age range. Many begin at 35, 40, or even 50. Some of the most thoughtful, determined candidates are the ones who start later. Experience is not a burden.

Did CFA remove the 90th percentile?

The 10th and 90th percentiles were removed from the report because we have added scale scores. Scale scores add more precision to your results interpretation. The 10th and 90th percentiles only provide a comparison of your result against other candidates in the same administration.

Is CFA level 3 very hard?

How hard is the CFA Level III exam? Due to the difficulty of the essay format of the CFA Level III exam, it's deemed the most challenging CFA exam to pass although it has a higher pass rate than the Level II exam.