The net wealth held by European households reached €70.2 trillion in 2024, marking a 4.4% increase from the previous year, according to a study by the Italian Banking Association (ABI) based on recent European Central Bank data. German households held 29% of this wealth, followed by French (20%), Italian (16%), and Spanish (13%) households, with the remaining 22% distributed among other euro area countries.
Italian households reaffirmed their position among the most solid financially. Their net wealth stands at eight times their disposable income, exceeding the euro area average (7.5 times), France (7.4 times), and Germany (7.2 times). Spain recorded 8.6 times.
Italian household debt remains among the lowest in the euro area. Financial liabilities represent 8.4% of total assets in Italy, compared to the euro area average of 11.3%, Germany’s 9.7%, France’s 12.8%, and Spain’s 7.9%.
Residential property constitutes the main component of household wealth across the region. In Italy, although housing is the largest asset class, its share (43.9%) is below the euro area average (51.6%) and lower than in France (52.2%), Germany (53.2%), and Spain (60.6%), partly due to stronger property price increases elsewhere in the euro area. Deposits make up 11.2% of Italian household assets, slightly below the euro area average of 12.4%. Italian households hold more liquidity (1.6% of assets) than the euro area average (1.1%).
Business assets – including unlisted company shares and non-financial assets for productive use – represent 20.2% of Italian household portfolios, nearly six percentage points higher than the euro area average.
© Copyright ANSA