Wealth inequality across Europe: Which countries have the most unfair distribution?

Wealth distribution is 1 of nan important indicators of equality successful society. Although it is uneven successful astir countries, nan level of inequality matters.

In nan first 4th of 2025, nan apical 10% of households successful nan euro area held 57.4% of full nett wealth, while nan apical 5% unsocial accounted for 44.5% according to nan European Central Bank (ECB). In contrast, nan bottommost 50% of households only held astir 5% of wealth. These figures show nan singular inequality successful wealthiness distribution crossed Europe.

But really is nan wealthiness distributed successful Europe? Which countries person nan highest and lowest wealthiness inequality scores crossed Europe? And what are nan main reasons driving wealthiness inequality differences?

Wealth distribution successful Europe

UBS’s 2025 Global Wealth Report reveals nan Gini scale of wealthiness inequality crossed Europe arsenic of 2024. The Gini coefficient measures wealthiness inequality successful a state pinch a number betwixt 0 and 1: A higher worth indicates greater inequality, while a worth of 0 represents complete equality.

According to nan report, Sweden records nan highest wealth inequality pinch a Gini people of 0.75, while Slovakia reports nan lowest astatine 0.38.

In summation to Sweden, wealthiness inequality is besides precocious successful Turkey (0.73), Cyprus (0.72), Czechia (0.72) and Latvia (0.7), each pinch scores supra 0.7. 

At nan bottom, Belgium (0.47) and Malta (0.48) travel Slovakia pinch Gini coefficient's beneath 0.5. 

Inequality among apical 5 economies: Largest successful Germany, smallest successful Spain

Among Europe’s apical 5 economies, Germany has nan highest level of wealthiness inequality astatine 0.68, while nan scores are overmuch person successful nan different countries: Spain (0.56) is nan lowest, followed by Italy (0.57), nan UK (0.58), and France (0.59).

Why does Sweden rank highest successful wealthiness inequality?

Sweden is often described arsenic a exemplary of societal equality successful galore areas but its wealthiness distribution is among nan astir uneven successful Europe.

Dr Lisa Pelling, nan caput of Stockholm-based deliberation vessel Arena Idé, offered respective reasons for this. These see nan abolishment of a number of wealth taxes complete nan past decades. Sweden besides has nary taxation connected inheritance, gifts, aliases property.

Pointing to nan very debased taxes connected companies, Pelling explained that this creates galore “possibilities for rich | group to get moreover richer”. 

The wealthiest 5%: How overmuch do they own?

The wealthiness shares of nan richest 5% of nan organization are different bully parameter of wealthiness distribution. Among 20 countries, this stock ranges from 30.8% successful Malta to 54% successful Latvia successful nan first 4th of 2025, according to nan ECB. 

Apart from Malta, Cyprus (31.4%), nan Netherlands (32.8%), Greece (33%), and Slovakia (34.4%) study nan lowest wealthiness inequality. 

In contrast, aft Latvia, Austria (53.1%) and Lithuania (51.7%) person nan highest shares, pinch nan apical 5% holding much than half of full family nett wealth.

Top 10% clasp complete 60% successful Germany and Italy

The rankings are broadly akin for nan wealthiest 10% of societies, pinch only flimsy changes, ranging from 42.7% successful Malta to 64% successful Latvia and Austria. 

The stock held by nan apical 10% is beneath 50% successful Slovakia (44.1%), Cyprus (44.8%), Greece (45.4%), nan Netherlands (46.2%), and Ireland (48.6%). 

Besides Latvia and Austria, Germany (60.5%) and Italy (60.3%) are nan different 2 countries wherever nan wealthiest 10% of nan organization besides clasp complete 60% of nett wealth.

This fig amounts to 54.8% successful France and 53.4% successful Spain.

Home ownership matters

Dr. Carlos Vacas-Soriano and Eszter Sándor, investigation managers astatine Eurofound, emphasised that home ownership rates are 1 of nan main factors contributing to differences successful wealthiness distribution. Countries pinch higher levels of location ownership thin to person little wealthiness inequality, whereas countries wherever entree to different financial assets is much wide thin to show higher inequality.

UBS’s 2022 figures screen more countries successful position of wealthiness shares by apical percentiles, including nan stock of nan apical 1% successful Europe, though nan results whitethorn disagree from those of nan ECB.

Wealth inequality besides changes complete time—this Euronews portion besides shows how it evolved betwixt 2008 and 2023, on pinch imaginable reasons.