Romania's Long-Term Citizens' Wealth Grows Sluggishly, According to UBS Report
In a recent UBS Global Wealth Report, Europe saw a mixed bag of results in terms of wealth growth. Some countries experienced significant increases, while others faced declines.
South Korea, Australia, Canada, and Japan recorded remarkable growth in 2024, with increases of 13.9%, 10.7%, 9.6%, and 8.6% respectively. Among these, South Korea led the pack with the highest growth.
However, the story was different in Europe. Hungary, leading the continent, saw an 18.6% increase in median wealth per adult, making it the top European country with the highest increase. Lithuania followed closely with a 16.9% increase, while Sweden, Italy, and Latvia recorded growth of 15.3%, 15%, and 15% respectively.
Italy, in particular, stood out among Europe's larger economies, with a 15% median wealth growth. This was significantly higher than the UK, which had the lowest increase among the big five, at 5.3%. France (10.3%), Germany (9.5%), and Spain (9%) fell between these ranges.
Unfortunately, Turkey and Belgium were the only European countries to record a decrease in median wealth per adult. Turkey suffered a sharp 20.9% drop, while Belgium experienced a 5.6% decrease.
When considering average wealth instead of median, several European countries recorded decreases, including Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and the United Kingdom. However, Cyprus had the highest increase in average wealth in Europe, with a growth of 43.9%. Hungary also had an increase of 13.2% in average wealth, but when considering long-term average wealth trends, the country experienced a decrease of 0.3%.
Estonia had a decrease of 0.1%, and the decline in real average wealth per adult during this period was mainly due to high inflation. Russia also experienced a decline of 8.2%.
In contrast, the US saw an increase of 2.3%. Romania had an increase of 4.8% in average wealth, and the Netherlands followed with a decrease of 2.3%. Denmark, Latvia, and Lithuania all had increases over 30% in average wealth.
China, on the other hand, recorded a significant decline in wealth per adult of 6.3%.
In conclusion, while some European countries experienced significant growth in wealth, others faced declines. It is essential to monitor these trends to understand the economic health of various nations and to make informed decisions.
[1] UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 [2] European Central Bank Report 2024 [3] International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Report 2024
- In terms of personal-finance growth, Hungary, with an 18.6% increase in median wealth per adult, was the European leader among the countries analyzed in the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025.
- Despite some European countries showing positive signs, others like Turkey and Belgium faced declines, with Turkey suffering a sharp 20.9% drop, highlighting the need for careful financial management and further analysis as mentioned in the European Central Bank Report 2024.
