Current U.S. retirees are expected to leave legacies to their children that are among the most generous in the world, according to HSBC’s global survey of more than 16,000 people in 15 countries. One fifth of legacies left to children by American retirees are expected to exceed $390,000.

The study reveals that a large number of working age people hope to live off an inheritance after leaving the workforce, with two thirds (66 percent) saying it would finance their retirement to some extent, and 10 percent planning to rely solely on this income to fund their retirement.

The 10 countries with the biggest inheritances, from smallest to largest, are:

No. 10. Mexico

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $96,347

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 84 percent

No. 9. Brazil

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $131,761 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 71 percent 

No. 8. Hong Kong

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $145,943 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 70 percent

No. 7. Canada

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $171,154 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 57 percent

No. 6. United States

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $176,814 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 56 percent

No. 5. Taiwan

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $191,039 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 70 percent

No. 4. France

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $223,699 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 64 percent 

No. 3. United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $284,145 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 64 percent 

No. 2.  Singapore

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $370,966 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 70 percent

No. 1.  Australia

 

 

 

 

 

Average inheritance: $501,919 

Retirees expecting to leave an inheritance: 69 percent