Data · Germany · HFCS Wave 2023
Average net worth by age in Germany
German households have a median net wealth of €103,300 (about $111,564) — below the euro-area median of €140,100, largely because most Germans rent rather than own. All figures are from the European Central Bank's Household Finance and Consumption Survey, Wave 2023.
Median & mean net wealth by age
| Age of reference person | Median (EUR) | ≈ USD | Mean (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16–34 | €17,600 | $19,008 | €106,900 |
| 35–44 | €75,900 | $81,972 | €237,500 |
| 45–54 | €157,100 | $169,668 | €409,600 |
| 55–64 | €256,900 | $277,452 | €440,100 |
| 65–74 | €211,600 | $228,528 | €411,400 |
| 75+ | €139,800 | $150,984 | €343,700 |
| All households | €103,300 | $111,564 | €324,000 |
Source: ECB Household Finance and Consumption Survey, Wave 2023 (net wealth by age of the reference person, Germany). USD indicative at €1 ≈ $1.08. Last updated: August 2026.
Why Germany's median is low
Net wealth is hump-shaped over the life cycle — it climbs from €17,600 for under-35s to a peak of €256,900 for 55–64s, easing to €211,600 at 65–74 and €139,800 for the over-75s. But across every age, Germany's median sits below the euro-area figure. The reason is structural: Germany has one of the lowest homeownership rates in the euro area, and a home is the single largest wealth-building asset for most households. The mean (€324,000) runs more than 3× the median — a sign of how concentrated German wealth is at the top.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average net worth by age in Germany?
- Median household net wealth by age of the reference person (ECB HFCS Wave 2023): 16–34 €17,600; 35–44 €75,900; 45–54 €157,100; 55–64 €256,900; 65–74 €211,600; 75+ €139,800. Net wealth peaks in the 55–74 range and eases in retirement as assets are drawn down.
- What is the median net worth in Germany?
- The overall median German household net wealth is €103,300 (ECB HFCS Wave 2023) — notably below the euro-area median of €140,100. The mean is far higher at €324,000, because wealth is very unevenly distributed.
- Why is Germany's median net worth so low for a rich country?
- Germany has one of the lowest homeownership rates in the euro area — roughly half of households rent. Because a primary residence is the largest wealth-building asset for most households, a renting-heavy country shows a lower median net wealth even at high incomes. This is the most-cited finding of the HFCS for Germany.
- Median or mean — which should I use?
- The median (€103,300) is the better benchmark for a "typical" German household; half hold less. The mean (€324,000) is over 3× the median — the widest mean-to-median gap of the large euro-area economies — because a small number of very wealthy households pull the average up. Germany's wealth distribution is the most unequal of the big four on this measure: the equivalent ratios are about 2.2× in France and 1.9× in Italy.
Last updated: August 2026. Source: European Central Bank — Household Finance and Consumption Survey, Wave 2023 (Statistical Tables, June 2026). Figures are median and mean household net wealth by age of the reference person, Germany. The HFCS publishes median and mean by age, not a by-age percentile breakdown. Educational data only — not financial advice.
