Iceland leads the rankings for the first time, with a 14.7% growth on the year in 2016, while 40 countries of the 55 analyzed by Knight Frank Global House Index registered an upward trend.
Iceland is followed by New Zeeland and Malta, while Singapore, Taiwan and Ukraine are at the opposite pole.
Romania climbed to 15th spot in 2016, from 31 in 2015. Thus, house price index rose 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with the second quarter, and fell 0.5% in the fourth quarter, compared with the third quarter.
House prices around the world increased by 6% on average in 2016, up from 4.1% in 2015.
The Knight Frank Global House Price Index was established in 2006 and allows investors and developers to monitor and compare the performance of mainstream residential markets around the world. The index is compiled on a quarterly basis using official government statistics or central bank data where available.