Data · Ireland · HFCS Wave 2023
Average net worth by age in Ireland
Irish households have a median net wealth of €258,100 (about $278,748) — third-highest in the euro area and well above the euro-area median of €140,100. But it is very unevenly held across generations. All figures are from the European Central Bank's Household Finance and Consumption Survey, Wave 2023, published June 2026.
Median & mean net wealth by age
| Age of reference person | Median (EUR) | ≈ USD | Mean (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16–34 | €23,900 | $25,812 | €115,200 |
| 35–44 | €151,400 | $163,512 | €302,400 |
| 45–54 | €282,600 | $305,208 | €502,300 |
| 55–64 | €404,500 | $436,860 | €822,400 |
| 65–74 | €415,700 | $448,956 | €629,300 |
| 75+ | €385,100 | $415,908 | €584,100 |
| All households | €258,100 | $278,748 | €486,600 |
Source: ECB Household Finance and Consumption Survey, Wave 2023 (Tables A3/A4, net wealth by age of the reference person, Ireland). USD indicative at €1 ≈ $1.08. Last updated: 21 September 2026.
A high median — and a wide generational gap
Irish net wealth climbs steeply from €23,900 for under-35s to a peak of €415,700 for 65–74s — roughly 17 times as much, one of the widest young-to-peak gaps in the euro area. The driver is housing. Irish house prices collapsed in the 2008 crash and then recovered strongly, so long-standing homeowners now hold substantial equity, while high prices and rents make it hard for younger households to buy in the first place. Because a home is the main source of household wealth, that ownership divide shows up as a generational one. The mean (€486,600) runs about 1.9× the median.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average net worth by age in Ireland?
- Median household net wealth by age of the reference person (ECB HFCS Wave 2023): 16–34 €23,900; 35–44 €151,400; 45–54 €282,600; 55–64 €404,500; 65–74 €415,700; 75+ €385,100. Wealth peaks in the 65–74 band and stays high after 75.
- What is the median net worth in Ireland?
- The overall median Irish household net wealth is €258,100 (ECB HFCS Wave 2023) — third-highest of the 20 euro-area countries in the survey, behind Luxembourg and Malta, and well above the euro-area median of €140,100. The mean is €486,600, about 1.9× the median.
- Why is Irish net worth so high?
- House prices and homeownership among older cohorts. A primary residence is the biggest wealth-building asset for most households; 67.9% of Irish households own their home (euro area: 60.1%), and Irish house prices — after collapsing in the 2008 crash — recovered strongly, lifting the equity of long-standing owners. Households aged 55 and over hold the most.
- Why do young people in Ireland have so little?
- Under-35 households have a median net wealth of €23,900 — versus €415,700 at the 65–74 peak, roughly 17 times as much. The gap reflects Ireland's housing affordability pressure: high prices and rents make it hard for younger people to buy, so they build home equity — the main source of household wealth — much later than previous generations did.
- Median or mean — which should I use?
- The median (€258,100) is the better benchmark for a "typical" Irish household; half hold less. The mean (€486,600) is about 1.9× the median because a smaller number of very wealthy households pull the average up.
- Are these figures up to date?
- Yes. They are from the ECB's HFCS Wave 2023, published in June 2026 — the newest wave. Pages and AI answers still quoting an Irish median of €193,700 are using the superseded Wave 2021 figure. Updated 21 September 2026.
Last updated: 21 September 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, Ireland. The HFCS publishes median and mean by age, not a by-age percentile breakdown. Educational data only — not financial advice.
