Where in Europe Are the Richest Young People: A Ranking of Countries by Wealth

The median net worth of young people in Europe varies by a factor of ten: from €5,700 in Finland to €257,500 in Malta. New data from the European Central Bank shows that high incomes do not always translate into high levels of accumulated assets. Learn more about where Europe’s wealthiest young people live and why such a large disparity has emerged between countries

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Young people have not yet had time to accumulate significant wealth through their own efforts, which is why this age group best illustrates the impact of family support, housing costs, the credit system, and government policy. A new study by the European Central Bank revealed a huge gap between European countries in terms of the median net wealth of people aged 16 to 34. In some countries, young people hold assets worth hundreds of thousands of euros, while in others, this figure does not exceed a few thousand.

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What is the level of wealth among young people in European countries?

The disparity in the well-being of young Europeans turned out to be much greater than it might seem at first glance. According to the European Central Bank’s Household Finance and Consumption Survey, the median net wealth of people aged 16 to 34 in the eurozone is €24,600. However, the difference between individual countries exceeds a factor of 45: ranging from €5,700 in Finland to €257,500 in Malta.

Net wealth is the total value of a person’s assets—including real estate, savings, investments, and other property—minus all debts and credit obligations. The median figure is used for this assessment, as it more accurately reflects the typical situation than the average, since it is not skewed by the exceptionally large fortunes of a few wealthy individuals.

The clear leader was Malta, where the median net wealth of young people reached €257,500. This is more than ten times the eurozone average. Luxembourg took second place with €135,000, while Belgium rounded out the top three with €97,200.

The top ten countries with the wealthiest young people also included:

- Croatia – €82,000

- Slovakia – €74,600

- Estonia – €62,200

- Czech Republic – €59,900

- Lithuania – €59,600

- Cyprus – €55,900

- Italy – €53,500

These countries significantly exceed the eurozone average, although not all of them are among Europe’s wealthiest economies. This suggests that the level of accumulated wealth among young people is shaped not only by income but also by other economic and social factors, which will be discussed below.

Median net wealth of people aged 16–34 in European countries (thousands of euros). Source: European Central Bank, infographic by Euronews

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Why do some less affluent countries outperform economic leaders?

One of the study’s most surprising findings was that high levels of youth well-being do not always correspond to a country’s overall level of economic development. The ranking includes countries that lag behind Europe’s largest economies in terms of GDP or average income, yet their young people have significantly greater wealth.

The most striking example is Croatia, which ranked fourth with a median net wealth among young people of €82,000. At the same time, according to Eurostat, the median annual net income of young Croatians is only €17,256, which is significantly lower than in many Western European countries. Despite this, in terms of accumulated assets, young people in Croatia outpace residents of France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands.

A similar situation is observed in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe:

- Slovakia – €74,600

- Estonia – €62,200

- Czech Republic – €59,900

- Lithuania – €59,600

According to experts, one of the main reasons for these results is the high proportion of homeowners among the population. In many countries in the region, young people are much more likely to acquire real estate through inheritance or with family support than their peers in Western Europe. Since housing is the largest asset for most households, owning it significantly increases net worth.

In addition, young people in these countries often have a lower debt burden. Lower levels of mortgage and consumer loans have a positive impact on net asset value, since all financial obligations are subtracted from the total value of assets when calculating net wealth.

That is why the ranking reflects not the level of wages, but how many assets a young person actually retains after accounting for debt. This explains why countries with lower income levels can outperform Europe’s largest economies in terms of the accumulated wealth of the younger generation.

In our previous article, we discussedwhich European countries have the highest prices.

How do Europe’s largest economies fare?

The study’s results revealed another interesting pattern: a country’s high level of economic development does not guarantee that its young people will accumulate more assets. Some of Europe’s largest economies ended up only in the middle or even at the bottom of the ranking.

Italy posted the best result among the four largest economies in the eurozone. The median net wealth of young Italians is €53,500, which allowed the country to enter the top ten of the ranking. By comparison, this figure stands at €27,700 in France, €23,700 in Spain, and just €17,600 in Germany.

Thus, young Italians have roughly three times as much net wealth as their peers in Germany, even though the German economy is traditionally considered the largest in Europe.

The example of the Netherlands is no less telling. Despite having one of the highest income levels in the EU, the median net wealth of young Dutch people is €40,900—significantly less than in Croatia, Slovakia, or Estonia.

Experts attribute this to several factors. In Western European countries, young people are more likely to start their independent lives in rented housing and take out large mortgages. High real estate prices and a significant debt burden reduce net wealth even when incomes are high.

This is precisely why the ranking highlights an important distinction: income and accumulated wealth are different economic indicators. A high salary helps build wealth, but the final outcome is also significantly influenced by asset structure, housing prices, debt levels, and the ability to receive financial support from family.

In our previous article, we discussed the richest cities and regions in Europe in 2026.

Where do young people have the least net worth?

At the opposite end of the ranking are countries where the median net worth of young people remains significantly below the eurozone average. In most cases, this is due to a combination of high housing prices, a significant debt burden, and lower homeownership rates among the younger generation.

The lowest figure among all countries included in the study was recorded in Finland—just €5,700. By comparison, young people in Malta have a median net worth that exceeds the Finnish figure by more than 45 times.

We previously wrote about the best cities in Europe to live in 2026.

The countries with the lowest accumulated wealth among young people also included:

- Greece – €9,900

- Austria – €13,400

- Latvia – €16,900

- Germany – €17,600

- Spain – €23,700

- Ireland – €23,900

Interestingly, Germany, Europe’s largest economy, fell below the eurozone average (€24,600). This reaffirms that a country’s economic strength is not always reflected in the level of accumulated assets among young people.

Researchers emphasize that net worth depends not only on income levels. Property ownership patterns, housing affordability, the extent of debt obligations, and the ability to accumulate assets at a young age all play important roles. This is precisely why countries with similar per capita incomes can differ significantly in terms of the well-being of their younger generation.

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We remind you! New economic indicators show which countries have been able to increase their GDP and which have lost ground due to inflation and slowing growth. Ranking of the richest countries in the world in 2026 — follow the link.

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