Median wealth for under-35s in the eurozone stands at 25,000 euros

Households led by people under the age of 35 hold a median net wealth of approximately 25,000 euros, according to the latest European Central Bank survey. This figure sits in sharp contrast to the financial position of older residents, who control the majority of household assets across the region. The disparity has become a central issue in a wave of student demonstrations that began in France in September and have since spread to more than 11 European countries.

The movement is fueled by rising rents, high fuel prices, and cuts to public services. Many participants say they no longer expect to be financially better off than their parents. The data released this month provides a concrete measure of that frustration. It shows that in the 22 countries covered by the study, those under 35 possess only 2.8 percent of total household wealth. The 55-to-64 age group holds the largest share at 24 percent, with a median net wealth of roughly 208,000 euros.

The survey, conducted by the ECB and national central banks since 2010, covers the eurozone plus the Czech Republic and Hungary. It calculates net wealth by subtracting debts from assets such as property, vehicles, valuables, and savings. In Finland, the gap is the widest. Under-35s there hold just 0.8 percent of household wealth, the lowest figure among all surveyed nations. Over-55s in Finland hold more than 71 percent of the total.

Other Western European nations show similar patterns. In Ireland, Austria, Greece, and Germany, younger adults hold between 1.4 and 2 percent of household wealth. This concentration of assets among older generations makes it harder for younger residents to access housing that previous generations bought or rented more easily. Evelyn Astor of the European Social Observatory noted that housing prices have climbed in both rental and ownership markets. She said this trend reinforces feelings of inequality as ordinary families struggle to pay bills while wealthy investors make large purchases in the housing market.

The cost of living has risen sharply since 2000. Prices for food, energy, transport, and household bills in the eurozone, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have increased by 67.2 percent, according to Eurostat. Hungary has seen the steepest rise, with prices more than tripling. Eastern European countries experienced the sharpest price hikes, particularly after 2022, due to reliance on Russian energy supplies during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Annual inflation in the EU peaked at 9.2 percent in 2022, driven mainly by energy costs.

Inflation has eased since that peak, but the price rises from the pandemic and the war have not reversed. Households continue to face higher costs for basic necessities. In Central and Eastern Europe, wealth is distributed more evenly. In Lithuania, under-35s hold 13.2 percent of household wealth, compared to 15.9 percent for the 55-to-64 group. Croatia, Slovakia, and Estonia show similar patterns, with younger adults holding between 9.8 and 12.3 percent of total wealth. Malta is an exception outside these regions, with under-35s holding 11.1 percent.

The current protests unfold against this backdrop of slower wealth accumulation and higher living costs. The data indicates that the generational divide in wealth remains wide. Older households continue to hold a large share of total assets, while younger residents hold a small fraction. The gap is most pronounced in Western and Northern Europe, where the share for under-35s is often below 2 percent.