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The distribution of wealth is one of the important indicators Equality in society. Despite the inequality in most countries, the level of inequality is important.
In the first quarter of 2025, 10% of households in the euro had 57.4% of total pure wealth, while 5% of households at the highest level were 44.5%, according to the European Central Bank (ECB). On the contrary, only about 5% of wealth had lower 50% of households. These figures show remarkable inequality in the distribution of wealth throughout Europe.
But how does wealth spread in Europe? What countries have the highest and lower indicators of inequality in Europe? And what are the main reasons that lead to differences in inequality in wealth?
Distribution of wealth in Europe
In the UBS report in 2025, global wealth shows the Jini Gini index in Europe in 2024. Gini’s coefficient measures the inequality of wealth in the country with a number from 0 to 1: a higher value indicates a greater inequality, while value 0 is complete equality.
According to the report, Sweden records the highest inequality of wealth with Gini’s coefficient 0.75, while Slovakia reports the lowest With 0.38.
In addition to Sweden, the inequality of wealth is also high in Türkiye (0.73), Cyprus (0.72), Czech Republic (0.72) and Latvia (0.7), all with estimates above 0.7.
The lowest provisions are Belgium (0.47) and Malta (0.48), followed by Slovakia with Gini’s coefficient below 0.5.
Inequality among the five best economies: the largest in Germany, the smallest in Spain
Among the five best economic economies in Europe, Germany has the highest level of inequality of wealth with 0.68, while assessments are much closer to other countries: Spain (0.56) is the lowest, followed by Italy (0.57), Great Britain (0.58) and France (0.59).
Why does Sweden take the highest position in the inequality of wealth?
Sweden It is often described as a model of social equality in many areas, but its distribution of wealth is one of the most unequal in Europe.
Dr. Lisa Peling, the head of the tank on Arena Idé Inding, based in Stockholm, speaks of a number of reasons for this. They include the removal of many taxation In recent decades. Sweden also does not steal a legacy, donations or property.
Parking for very low taxes for companies, Peling explained that this creates many “opportunities for rich people.”
The richest 5%: how much do they have?
The wealth of the richest 5% of the population is another good indicator of the distribution of wealth. According to ECB, between 20 countries this action varies from 30.8% in Malta to 54% in Latvia in Latvia.
In addition to Malta, Cyprus (31.4%), the Netherlands (32.8%), Greece (33%) and Slovakia (34.4%) report the lowest inequality of wealth.
On the contrary, after Latvia Austria (53.1%) and Lithuania (51.7%) have the highest shares, and 5%have more than half of the total pure wealth of households.
TOP 10% is more than 60% in Germany and Italy
Ratings, as a rule, are similar to the richest 10% of societies, with small changes, from 42.7% in Malta to 64% in Latvia and Austria.
The share in the top is -10% below 50% in Slovakia (44.1%), Cyprus (44.8%), Greece (45.4%), the Netherlands (46.2%) and Ireland (48.6%).
In addition to Latvia and Austria, Germany (60.5%) and Italy (60.3%) are two other countries, where 10% of the population also own more than 60% of pure wealth.
This figure is 54.8% in France and 53.4% in Spain.
Home possession is important
Odr Carlos Vakas – Soriano and Ashter Sandor, the director of the Eurofound research, emphasized that Home possession bets This is one of the main factors that contribute to the differences in the distribution of wealth. Countries with a higher level of home ownership, as a rule, have less inequality in wealth, while countries where access to other financial assets is more widespread, as a rule, more inequality.
UBS Items for the cover of 2022 More countries from the point of view of wealth shares per centimeterIncluding the share of 1% of the upper population in Europe, although the results may differ from the results of the ECB.
The inequality of wealth also changes over time -in the related article by Euronews, we see How it developed in the period from 2008 to 2023Along with possible reasons.